Legislative roundup

HELENA -- The Montana Senate is considering a bill passed by the House 62-38 late last month that would provide partial forgiveness of student loans for farmers.

Introduced by Rep. Zach Brown, D-Bozeman, House Bill 631 would repay up to half of a farmer’s student loans if he or she commits to farming or ranching for a minimum of five years.

Student loan debt is a big issue facing our economy in general,” Brown said. “It’s holding back young professionals.”

Brown said the issue is particularly relevant to the agriculture industry, which he described as “aging.” According to the latest statistics from the USDA’s Ag Census, which is done every five years, the average age of the American farmer in 2012 was 58. That’s five years older than the average age in 1992, which was 53.

HB 631 would be administered through Montana’s Growth Through Agriculture grant program, which the 1987 Legislature created to “strengthen and diversify” agriculture by helping fund projects across the state. The bill would create a new division called the “Montana Farmer Loan Repayment Assistance Program.” It requires at least 51 percent of the recipient’s income to be generated through farming.

Eligibility for repayment of student loans takes into account factors like financial need, likelihood of remaining in the farming industry and whether or not applicants belong to groups underrepresented in the industry.

The bill had no opponents at the hearing.

Supporters of HB 631 said the bill would help revitalize Montana’s farming industry by bringing in younger workers.

“We’re not keeping up with our aging population by getting young people back in the industry,” said Chelcie Cargill, representing the Montana Farm Bureau.

Kori Anderson of the Montana Stockgrowers Association said the bill would only benefit Montana farmers.“This isn’t for out-of-state students trying to get their loans paid off so they can have a ranch in Montana,” Anderson said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

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Air ambulance bill passes both houses

The Montana House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would remove the financial responsibility from patients who are forced to use out-of-network air ambulances.

Senate Bill 44, introduced by Sen. Gordon Vance, R-Belgrade, would require insurance companies to cover excess charges from air ambulance providers. The bill has also passed the Senate.

“Senate Bill 44 is the most important air ambulance bill that we’ve heard yet,” said Rep. Vince Ricci, R-Laurel, who carried the bill in the House.

Air ambulances, sometimes referred to as “life flights,” provide emergency transportation to hospitals in life-threatening situations in which regular ambulances would not be quick enough. They often transport patients from rural hospitals to those with necessary services.

However, air ambulance providers are not always in Montana insurance networks, which can leave patients and families saddled with significant debt.

Ricci said the bill would only require patients to pay their deductible on air ambulance services. Air ambulance providers and insurance companies would then have to come to an agreement on payment for services between themselves.

During the bill’s first hearing in January, several Montanans spoke on the high cost of using air ambulances.

Benjamin Power, a Dillon resident, said he was life flighted to Salt Lake City for an emergency neurological procedure.

“Within a few weeks of the procedure, when I was at my absolute worst, I received a bill for $56,000,” Power said.

Six others spoke at that hearing, all saying the service cost them into the tens of thousands of dollars. One woman, Sonia Moscolic-Andrews of Anaconda, only saw reprieve from the cost of her husband’s life flight to Missoula after he died.

However, opponents of the bill argue SB 44 would only send the debt back to consumers.

“When you tell health plans to just pay up, the cost is passed through to taxpayers of Montana,” said Bruce Spencer, representing America’s Health Insurance Plans. “That is a public policy decision you have to make, and I guess I’m asking that you take a deep breath.”