Public Health Care Advisory Council
To help facilitate deliberations of the PHCAC and its interactions with the Department, a contract was issued to the Montana Consensus Council – a state dispute resolution and consensus building program.
Governor Martz also requested that each tribal chair appoint a representative to serve on a separate subcommittee of the PHCAC to evaluate and recommend changes to the Medicaid program as related to Medicaid services on the reservations and Native American health care in urban areas.
From November 2003 through May 2004, the Consensus Council facilitated eight public meetings, during which the PHCAC evaluated proposals presented by the Department, suggested additional areas of concern, and provided valuable feedback from the various perspectives represented. During the last four meetings, the PHCAC adopted a formal position on the specific recommendations put forward by the Department.
From its inception, the entire Medicaid Redesign Project was intended as a public process. While the final report represents the Department’s formal recommendations, the direction Montana’s Medicaid program takes is a decision that rests ultimately with the Governor’s Office, state’s legislative representatives and, in instances where federal waivers are required, the federal government.
It is anticipated that as the recommendations are submitted to the 2005 Legislature, there will be additional opportunity for public discussion and debate about each of the recommendations contained in the final report.
The full report of the Medicaid Redesign Process is available from the Montana Consensus Council.
For more information about the role of the Consensus Council in the Medicaid redesign process, contact Executive Director Judy Edwards.