Health care measure certified for ballot

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM MDT

HELENA - The secretary of state has certified a ballot initiative that provides government-funded health coverage for as many as 30,000 uninsured children.

Brad Johnson says the measure received enough signatures to be on the November ballot. The initiative is known as the "Healthy Montana Kids Plan Act." The initiative needed 22,308 signatures to qualify. It had received 24,789 certified signatures in 54 legislative districts as of Wednesday.

Supporters say that the initiative will make Montana a national leader in covering children who are now without health insurance. I-155 would expand the Children's Health Insurance Plan, known as CHIP, and Medicaid. Gov. Brian Schweitzer has told his budget director to expect that it will pass and put it in the state budget with an estimated annual cost of $20 million.

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