Governor's 3rd Annual Health Care Summit Recap

Governor Judy Martz hosted the 2004 Governor's Health Care Summit on April 27-28, 2004, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana.

The Summit brought to light the progress made, and the challenges yet to be overcome to ensure all Montanans have access to affordable, quality health care. Over 225 leaders in the health care and business communities, state policymakers and health care consumers joined Governor Martz at the Summit and learned about health care cost and utilization trends, and the policy options for addressing the difficult health care issues facing Montanans.

The Martz/Ohs administration has been working diligently on the myriad of issues surrounding health care and highlighted some these efforts at the Health Care Summit. A study of the uninsured population has been completed and policy options for expanding health care insurance have been explored. The redesign of the Medicaid program has been undertaken to better serve Montanans most needy and vulnerable populations. Numerous initiatives related to the health care workforce shortage, chronic disease, substance abuse, and children's mental health have resulted in a better understanding of the impact of these forces to the health care delivery system.

The Summit began the evening of the 27th with a reception, followed by a debate on prescription drug importation. The Summit continued for a full day on the 28th with a gubernatorial forum and a slate of dynamic speakers and panelists who led an engaging dialogue on solutions that addressed health care access and costs, encouraged personal responsibility, and enhanced accountability within the health care delivery system.

Here are the available presentations from the Summit along with the agenda:

• Agenda
• Lynn Blewett: Panel on Health Care Affordability
• Liz Fowler: Federal Update: Medicare Modernization & Budget Outlook
• Mary Beth Frideres: Montana’s Community Health Centers and Access to Primary Care
• Brendan Krause: Affordability and Access: Health Care Issues in the States
• Bob Nakagawa, B.Sc.(Pharm.), R.Ph., FCSHP: Canadian Prescription Drugs: Are They Safe?
• Michael R. Spence, MD, MPH: Health Care Trends: A Public Health Perspective
• John Chappuis: Montana Medicaid Program
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats 1
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats 2
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats 3
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats Benefits Cost Chart 1
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats Benefits Cost Chart 2
  • Montana Medicaid Program Stats Benefits Cost Chart 3
  • All Medicaid Eligibles
  • Montana's Comprehensive Medicaid Design