Members help Win $90 Million Dollars in the 2009 Montana Legislative Session

Our top priorities in the Montana Legislature were to ensure affordable health care and a raise for home care workers, and expand access to home care services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Healthcare for Healthcare Workers (HB 2)
Last session we won access to health care for home care workers for the first time. In the 2009 session we successfully kept that program in the budget. Next session it will automatically be in the Governor’s base budget.

The Montana Legislature approved a $10.5 million dollar appropriation for 950 health care slots.

Wage Increases for Workers (HB 645)
We worked with Republicans and Democrats to make sure that workers got a raise. We worked with various parties to make sure that the money went to workers and not management.

The Montana legislature approved a $12.4 million dollar appropriation to give workers (home care workers and nursing home workers) a wage increase.

Expanding Home Care Services (HB 645)
Montana has a waiting list of hundreds of seniors and people with disabilities who need home care services but can’t get care. We worked with AARP and other advocates on a proposal to expand home and community based services.

The Montana Legislature approved a $8.9 million dollar appropriation to expand home and community based services.

Provider Rate Increase (HB 545)
We worked with other advocates to ensure a 2% provider rate increase. This money will help home care agencies and nursing home facilities maintain the current level of services to clients and residents avoid any staff cuts.

The Montana Legislature approved a $60 million dollar appropriation for a 2% provider rate increase that will improve the working conditions for long-term care workers.