The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Blaine County Chapter of Big Sky 55+ met for the second time on February 15 at the Tripe E Meeting Room of the Blaine County Courthouse Annex in Chinook. Some of their topics included Medicare Advantage fraud and an update on the Montana Legislature. Their next meeting will be held on March 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the same location.

Although yesterday’s meeting was sparsely attended, those present were “interested and receptive,” in the words of Program Director, Jacob Bachmeier. He attributed the small turn-out to the flu season and reported that the meeting covered two key points: Senior Long Term Care Facilities and Income Tax Reforms. Margie MacDonald, a Lobbyist for Big Sky 55+, Zoomed in from Helena to provide a brief update.

MacDonald explained that Medicaid reimbursement rates are not keeping up, a condition which has resulted in the closure of many rural senior care facilities. She encouraged the need to increase provider aids. She also discussed how recent income tax reforms have been beneficial to the wealthy but that those in the middle and working class, as well as those in lower income brackets, only receive a nominal tax break.

Bachmeier added to the conversation with information about how the 1997 Balanced Budget Act has created a ripple effect that has led to Medicare Advantage Part C plans. He described how private insurance companies are selling privatized plans to close the gap that people are seeing with medical bills that aren’t being entirely covered by Medicare.

When asked what might mitigate some of the current issues with Medicare, Bachmeier said, “Traditional Medicare needs improvement, for sure, but these private companies are using the good reputation of Medicare to get paid. With these privatized plans, they bill the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) on behalf of the insured. Then, through a process called upcoding and with various waivers, they are able to deny coverage on certain procedures and overbill for reimbursements.”

Bachmeier went on to suggest that the voting public needs to hold elected officials as well as big insurance companies accountable. “Our legislators have the power of oversight and can insist on an audit. They can also pass legislation to increase transparency that will make it harder for businesses to justify what is a form of fraud. These companies need to be held criminally liable so that we can recoup funds that have already been scammed out,” he said.

Bachmeier expressed enthusiasm about the mission of Big Sky 55+. Born and raised in Havre, he served in the Montana Legislature from 2017 to 2021. He initially got involved in local politics during Greg Jergeson’s 2014 state senate race.

According to the organization’s platform materials, Big Sky 55+ is an organization of Montanans 55 and older who are mobilizing their voices, experience, and power to make Montana “a better place for current and future generations and to advance the human dignity of all.”

Those documents further describe the group’s vision: “We are working for a future where all Montanans can live, work, raise a family, and retire in safety and dignity as they get older. We want a future where young people can pursue an education without crippling debt. We cherish Montana's safe and healthy communities where being a good neighbor is the norm, not the exception. We want all of us to have access to quality, affordable health care whether we live on a farm, in a city, or on a reservation. We want a future that keeps Montana’s constitutional promise of a clean and healthful environment.”

As explained by Bachmeier, local membership chapters are staff led and do not have a formal leadership structure. However, member participation is encouraged throughout any meetings and a period is reserved at the end of each meeting for general discussion and member feedback.

“Our meetings have three primary purposes,” Bachmeier explained. “First, we provide education and resources for our members and answer questions on specific issues related to our political advocacy work. Second, we give updates on the work we are doing as a staff to advocate on behalf of our members. The final core portion of our agenda is making members aware of ‘calls to action.’”

Calls to action are ways for members to get directly involved. “For example, we often call on members to share their life stories with elected officials to help create positive policy change. We also help members share their stories on relevant political issues with the press,” Bachmeier stated. “These stories create public awareness. When people hear how others are being impacted, this creates public demand for change.”

Blaine County held its first meeting of Big Sky 55+ on January 18 and will hold monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of each month through the end of the Montana Legislative Session. Following the end of the session, the group will hold local member meetings on a quarterly basis with many opportunities to get involved between member meetings.

Bachmeier added: “In addition to our in-person meetings, we often hold virtual town halls for all our statewide members. We regularly send newsletters and informational emails, meet with members individually, provide training opportunities, and are working on starting a podcast.”

Additional information contained in the organization’s Platform outlines beliefs related to their vision for Montana: “We believe in the public good that supports this vision, and we are prepared to fight for it. But everywhere it is under attack. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are threatened. At the same time, the tax revenues that fund these programs and other essential public services are in jeopardy, as taxes are cut for the wealthy. This shifts more of the burden to pay for these services from the wealthiest onto the rest of us. This is not right, it’s not moral, and it hurts our economy.

“Protecting these values is challenging work, and Big Sky 55+ brings an experienced Board and smart, energetic staff who are up to the challenge. The members of Big Sky 55+ come from all walks of life—teachers, farmers and ranchers, conservationists, faith leaders, health professionals, firefighters, small business owners, attorneys, community volunteers, union members, and more. Some of us are retired, some are still working. Some have served on local school boards, city councils, and even the Montana Legislature. All of us have been active for decades in pursuit of the common good, in an effort to provide opportunities for a happy, purposeful life for our families and generations into the future.”

Among the Big Sky 55+ founding Board Members, Ken Toole from Cascade currently serves as the organization’s Vice-Chair. Toole is a former Montana State Senator, Public Service Commissioner, and Founding Director of Montana Human Rights Network. Although Toole served as Chair for the last few years, he did not run for re-election as Chair this past December. As Vice-Chair he still serves on the board and remains very active.

Another founding member, the group’s current Chair is Carol Juneau of Great Falls. A member of the Mandan/Hidatsa Tribes, Juneau is a retired educator and former Montana State Senator.

Anyone interested in additional information can contact Program Director, Jacob Bachmeier at 406-879-6427 or jbachmeier@bigsky55.org.