RIGHT ON HEALTHCARE

Montana’s tight-knit communities always help each other through hard times. But often the biggest barrier in the way of delivering affordable, quality healthcare to help our communities is our broken healthcare system.

THE MISSION

The Frontier Institute partners with Right on Healthcare, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to lower health care costs, increase access, and ensure every American is in charge of their own individual or family medical decisions.

When the insurance companies and the government are in control, the result is always higher costs, less access, lower quality, and worse results.

To develop an effective system that prioritizes the needs of patients, Right on Health Care is committed to the following principles:

→ Individuals and families should control their own health care decisions.

→ Patients should know what medical services cost before they are performed.

→ Health insurance should return to helping Americans manage long-term and emergency health risks, not act as pre-pay plans for medical care.

→ Americans should have access to a wide variety of options to cover medical expenses that meet their personal and financial needs.

Right on Healthcare has developed five specific 2021 legislative priorities to lower health care costs for Montanans:

Expand Telemedicine: Telemedicine offers a convenient and safe alternative to traveling long distances to see a doctor. Montana should permanently eliminate regulations waived during the coronavirus outbreak that increased telemedicine access and lower costs.

Repeal Certificate of Need Laws: Montana’s CON program has been a disaster during the pandemic – increasing costs, limiting access and even costing lives. Repealing this harmful program could help reduce costs and boost much needed hospital capacity.

Protect Direct Primary Care: Direct Primary Care (DPC) has proven to be a transparent, low cost option of quality healthcare for Montanans since being authorized in 2017. DPC Memberships are arrangements for care between patients and their doctors, not insurance. Legislation is needed to permanently authorize DPC and other Direct Care arrangements.

Allow Physicians to Dispense Medicine: Montana is one of only five states that does not allow physicians to directly dispense medications to patients. Doing so not only cuts down wait times at pharmacies, but studies show it increases adherence rates, improves patient health, and reduces the use of emergency care if they’ve had an adverse reaction, lowering costs.

Increase Medicaid Health Care Options: Montana should request a waiver to use Medicaid funds for expanding the number of choices patients have for receiving care, such as direct primary care. This would directly relieve stress and crowding at hospitals that contribute to the spread of disease, helping to lower healthcare costs.

The Latest

Montana’s Healthcare Reforms Set National Example

As one healthcare expert recently put it, “Other states should now look to Montana for guidance on how to get health policy right.”

By Tanner Avery

Frontier Institute Statement In Support Of SB 550

Legislation will spur employer adoption of the innovative and affordable direct healthcare model

By Frontier Institute

The Reform To Expand Access To Healthcare In Rural Montana

Reforms to increase Montanans access to healthcare are a welcome development, let's hope lawmakers agree.

By Tanner Avery

Viewpoint: Disintermediation – A Cure For The Doctor-Patient Relationship

"There are several models that have successfully eliminated the intermediaries in healthcare and restored the doctor-patient relationship."

By Jack Brown

Frontier Institute Statement In Support Of HB 152

Lawmakers can bolster Montana’s healthcare workforce with permanent red tape relief

By Frontier Institute

Frontier Institute Statement In Support Of SB 112

Legislation will expand the ability of pharmacists to help address health care shortages

By Frontier Institute

Viewpoint: The Losses to Physician Medicare Reimbursement in 2022/23 are Mind-boggling. Update to “When Will Enough Be Enough.”

"Inflation acts like a hidden tax which erodes the buying power of people’s income and savings and eats away at the ability to achieve long-term financial goals."

By Jack Brown

Let Healthcare Professionals Get To Work

"Universal Licensure Recognition could be one idea to boost health care access that both Democrats and Republicans can champion together, for the good of Montana patients."

By Kendall Cotton

Solutions To Montana’s Healthcare Shortages

"Although many Montana communities have historically struggled with healthcare shortages, these changes would mark a big step forward in making Montana a place where professionals come to practice and patients come for medical care."

By Tanner Avery

Meet Montana’s Newest Direct Patient Care Provider

"That is what makes DPC so special, it’s a win-win for both patients and providers."

By Tanner Avery

Celebrating Montana’s Wins for Healthcare Freedom

"These reforms are expanding access to high quality, affordable healthcare without the need for strict government mandates or increases in taxes – reaffirming the notion that sometimes the best solution to the problems Montanans face is for the government to just get out of the way."

By Tanner Avery

Montana’s Struggle With Naturopathic Health Care Red Tape

"These rules were written before the internet and cell phones were widely adopted – it’s finally time to dust off the rule book and bring naturopathic health care regulations into the 21st century.”

By Frontier Institute

MtLeg Viewpoint: Health Care Reforms Benefiting Montanans

"All three of these major reforms are empowering Montanans with more freedom to manage their health, access services and save money."

By Sen. Cary Smith, Rep. Rhonda Knudsen

Montana’s Healthcare Success Story

"While other states have struggled to repeal Certificate of Need laws, Montana’s legislature should be commended for taking a stand for healthcare access."

By Tanner Avery