Children, Families, Health, & Human Services Interim Committee

Members Named to Health Care Price Transparency Subcommittee

Committee: Children, Families, Health, & Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on August 9, 2017


abstract Image of the cost of healthcare

Fifteen people have been selected to serve on a subcommittee that will examine matters related to transparency in health care pricing, the presiding officer of a legislative interim committee announced on Wednesday.

"This group represents a cross-section of customer, business, health care, insurer and legislative interests," said Sen. Mary Caferro, D-Helena and presiding officer of the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee. "The members bring broad knowledge and varied viewpoints to this complicated topic."

The Children and Families Committee agreed in June to create a subcommittee made up of legislators and public members to carry out the bulk of the work proposed in the House Joint Resolution 20 study of health care price transparency. The subcommittee will meet periodically between now and next summer to prepare and refine recommendations for the full interim committee.

Caferro appointed Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings, and Sen. Albert Olszewski, R-Kalispell, as the interim committee's representatives on the subcommittee. Kelker, who sponsored HJR 20, will serve as presiding officer of the subcommittee.

Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, and Sen. Tom Facey, D-Missoula, will serve as representatives of the Economic Affairs Interim Committee, subject to that committee's approval at its Sept. 14 meeting.

Caferro said other members of the subcommittee are:

  • Bob Olsen, representing the Montana Hospital Association;
  • John Hill, president and CEO of Bozeman Health, representing a large hospital;
  • Cherie Taylor, CEO of Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank, representing a critical access hospital;
  • Dr. Roman Hendrickson of Sheridan, representing the Montana Medical Association;
  • Jen Hensley, government relations manager for PacificSource Health Plans, representing a health insurer;
  • Kevin Larson, president of EBMS, Inc., representing an unaffiliated employer;
  • Sarah Swanson Partridge, general manager of Farm Equipment Sales, Inc., in Glasgow, representing a small group employer;
  • Connie Prewitt, chief financial officer of Billings Clinic, representing the Montana Chamber of Commerce;
  • Olivia Riutta, outreach and engagement manager for the Montana Primary Care Association, representing privately insured individuals;
  • Marilyn Bartlett, administrator of the state Health Care and Benefits Division, representing the Montana Department of Administration; and
  • Kris Hansen, chief legal counsel for Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale, representing the State Auditor's Office. That office regulates insurance companies.

The Children and Families Committee established the general makeup of the subcommittee at its June meeting. The various organizations represented on the group selected the individuals to serve on the committee.

The subcommittee will hold its first meeting on Sept. 12 in Room 137 of the Capitol in Helena. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m.