News Release
Governor Martz Launches Public Health Care Advisory Council
7/30/2003
Chuck Butler
406-444-5523
cbutler@state.mt.us
July 10, 2003
Governor Martz Launches Public Health Care Advisory Council
HELENA - Today Governor Judy Martz announced the members of an 18-person
council charged with finding long-term solutions for several components of
Montana's public health care system. Former DPHHS Director Peter Blouke
will staff the council under the direction of current Director Gail Gray.
"This redesign effort is not a fiscal management issue," Governor Martz
said. " I firmly believe opportunities exist to enhance access to affordable health care, and those opportunities must be pursued. If there is a way we can do more with our state's investment, then we owe it to our residents to find out how, and make it happen. Today is the first step in that process."
The Council will work with the Governor and DPHHS to fulfill the
requirements of House Joint Resolution 13 passed during the recent
legislative session. The Council will work on issues including various
options for the Medicaid program, the Mental Health Services Plan, the state Children's Health Insurance Program, and urban Indian health clinics and tribal-based health clinics.
"The provisions of HJR 13 intend to guide us through the tight times by
re-examining our state public health programs and setting priorities," Martz stated. "Two of these priorities are finding ways to best utilize available financial resources and establishing a funding method to prevent future mid-year reductions in programs and services."
"You will see that the 18 members are a diverse group of Montanans from all
across the state, who bring a wealth of knowledge and personal experience
with the Medicaid program," Governor Martz said about the appointees.
The Governor also announced the 2nd annual Governor's Health Care Summit
that will address several health policy issues. The summit will be held in
Billings on September 24 and 25.
A list of the appointees to the Governor's Public Health Care Advisory
Council follows.
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THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL
July 10, 2003
Representing Medicaid Consumers
Twila Costigan, Intermountain Children's Home
June Hermanson, State Independent Living Council
Representing Physicians, Nursing, and Dentists
Dr. Gary Mihelish, Helena
R.D. Marks, M.D., Western Montana Clinic in Missoula
Representing Hospitals
James Kiser, James Community Healthcare in Butte
Representing Long Term Care and Senior Citizens
Bob Bartholomew, Montana AARP
Rose Hughes, Montana Health Care Association
Representing Mental Health and Chemical Dependency
Loren Soft, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
Representing Native Americans
John Pipe, Fort Peck Tribe
Representing Insurance
Tanya Ask, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
Representing Rural Health
Patsy Vargo, M.D., Conrad
Representing the General Public
Betty Lou Kasten, Brockway
Mary Cafero, WEEL
Representing the Legislature
Senators Bob Keenan and Senator Trudi Schmidt
Representatives Edith Clark, Representative Dan Hurwitz, and
Representative Jonathan Windy Boy
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