Letter to the editor: Medicaid expansion should be no-brainer

In 2010, I started working as a hospitalist at St. Peter's Health in Helena prior to Medicaid expansion. I had numerous patients who were trying to work, but did not have health insurance. Due to their lack of insurance, they waited too long before seeking medical care as they did not feel they could afford a primary care or urgent care visit.

They eventually presented to the emergency department so ill they required admission to the hospital. This caused them to rack up thousands of dollars in medical expenses and led to long hospital stays often costing them their jobs due to their illnesses. After Medicaid expansion in 2015, the frequency of patients presenting in this way decreased significantly.

I had some of the same patients who have chronic medical conditions present to the ED and occasionally require admission, but they were hospitalized much earlier in their illness because they were not afraid of the medical care costs. This allowed for shorter hospital stays and my patients being able to get back to their jobs and families. Many patients I used to see in the hospital recurrently prior to Medicaid expansion have not returned because they now have primary care access.

Continuing Medicaid expansion should not be a "hot and controversial" topic as stated by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls. It should be a no-brainer for our state. This is about people, our workforce and health, not politics.

Ashley Coggins, D.O.,