One in five Montanans have no health insurance at all. That means they're unlikely to get preventive medicine, or regular visits to the doctor. And when they are sick or injured the medical attention they do get is usually less timely and less appropriate. The leading cause for personal bankruptcy in Montana is the cost of rapidly escalating medical bills.

Moreover, the crisis of the uninsured is one that affects more than just the 175,000 state residents who either lack coverage or have a family member who does. When uninsured patients finally get emergency care, it's that much more expensive, and they still can't pay for it. So, the expenses are shifted by hospitals and doctors on to patients who do have insurance. That drives premiums even higher.

That's why public officials, community groups, health care providers, businesses, consumers, educators, and voters of every kind have come together in Montana to find a solution. Led by State Auditor John Morrison, who also serves as the state's insurance commissioner, Montanans are taking a series of bold and innovative steps. Together they mark a clear path toward expanded coverage and increased access to affordable, quality health care for more of Montana's residents.

"If one in five Montanans had no food, surely we'd call it a hunger crisis. If one in five Montanans had no job, it would clearly be a crisis of unemployment. So how can we continue to ignore the growing crisis in health security?" said Morrison, who, last November, was re-elected for his second term as auditor.

Of course, the health care crisis affects Montanans where they live and how they work. "Most small businesses that want to provide health insurance to their employees find they just can't afford the premium," Morrison said. "Workers are denied pay increases and additional benefits because insurance costs keep going up. Too many Montanans are forced to choose between paying for health care and paying for basic necessities like food or rent."

Three years ago, Morrison began a push to use tobacco tax revenue to fund a set of creative initiatives that would significantly help improve access to health care in Montana. Over 40 major organizations joined the effort and last year the coalition known as Healthy Kids Healthy Montana put Initiative 149 on the ballot to fund the programs. In November, it passed with overwhelming support.

Last week, legislation was unveiled to implement the programs. Morrison laid out the details:

• "Tax credits for small businesses. The credits will help small business owners provide health insurance to their employees. Some of the credits will be offered to small businesses in danger of dropping their current health insurance plans due to rising premiums. Most will go into a purchasing pool, allowing thousands of small businesses to band together and provide affordable health insurance for their employees.
• Prescription drug relief. Low-income seniors and others will receive credits to offset the cost of prescription medicine. Thousands of lives will be lengthened and improved as a result.
• Health insurance for children. Finally, Montana's Children's Health Insurance Program will be fully-funded. Several thousand additional children will receive health coverage, and matching funds will bring ten million in new federal dollars to our state.
• Medicaid improvements. Doctors, hospitals, and other providers will receive new payments for treating Medicaid patients, another effort to reduce cost-shifting and hold the line on private health insurance premiums."

Newly elected Governor Brian Schweitzer has supported the efforts and made them a priority in his new budget.

"If we work together and stay focused on the needs of everyday citizens, we can look forward to a healthier and more secure Montana," Morrison said.