MONTANA HEALTH CARE LEADERS ANNOUNCE I-185 WEEK OF ACTION
(Helena, Mont.) – Doctors, nurses and health care providers from across Montana plan a week of action in support of the Healthy Montana initiative, I-185, which will raise the state tobacco tax and prevent 100,000 Montanans including veterans from losing their health insurance.
Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in America. Each year, 1,600 Montanans die from smoking. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
Next week, doctors and nurses from across the state will be fanning out into their communities to discuss the deadly toll Big Tobacco is taking on Montana families.
“The Healthy Montana Initiative is important to the health and well-being of residents from every corner of our state and helps to ensure thousands of Montanans get the medical coverage and care they need,” said Dr. Michelle Pierson, Billings Clinic Pediatrics Department Chair. “Education is one of the most effective tools in helping us build a healthier, happier Montana. No matter how nicotine is delivered, it is dangerous to kids and adults, is very highly addictive and has consequences to the developing brains of teens and young adults. Its popularity among tweens and teens is enhanced by how it is marketed and packaged.”
The citizens’ initiative, I-185 will raise the state cigarette tax $2 per pack and will:
- decrease youth smoking rates by 20.6 percent;
- prevent 8,000 Montana kids from becoming adult smokers; and
- help 9,300 adults quit smoking.
The money raised by I-185 will prevent the loss of existing Medicaid coverage for nearly 100,000 Montanans, including thousands of veterans and their families. Medicaid helps working parents go to the doctor when they are sick and helps protect Montana families from going bankrupt. It’s also a lifeline for rural hospitals. When rural hospitals stay open, it helps everyone in the community access the care they need. In addition, some of the funding will go directly to veterans’ nursing home care and other unmet needs like veteran suicide prevention.
Week of Action Events
A sample of activities taking place across the state.
Monday August 13, 2018:
Montana hospitals kick off the week with in-house educational events. Events will take place Monday through Friday, providing opportunities for staff to learn about I-185 and the important health and economic impacts on our state.
Tuesday August 14, 2018:
Doctors and nurses will rally community support for I-185 at the Farmer’s Market in Whitefish, Mont. The health experts will provide technical information, answer questions and share their perspectives of why I-185 is essential for the state and local community.
Organizer: North Valley Hospital
Location: North end of Central Avenue (Downtown Whitefish)
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 15, 2018:
Health experts will host an interactive showcase of Big Tobacco’s deceptive marketing tactics at Montana Fair in Billings, Mont. The educational event for Montana parents and kids will feature games and an on-site illustration of how the tobacco industry targets kids through advertising and product placement.
Organizer: Billings Clinic
Location: Montana Fair “Kids World” (Billings)
Time: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday August 16, 2018:
Mental health experts will answer questions from the community with Facebook Live. The live video stream will engage participants from across the state in a roundtable discussion about the importance of Medicaid, and also addiction as it pertains to mental illness. I-185 will prevent the loss of Medicaid coverage for nearly 100,000 Montanans and fund health services for families, veterans and seniors. The video will stream from Helena, Mont.
Organizer: Shodair Children’s Hospital
Location: Facebook @Shodair Children’s Hospital
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Friday August 17, 2018:
Health care staff and volunteers will rally community support for I-185 at the Farmers’ Market in Red Lodge, Mont. They will provide technical information, answer questions and share their perspectives of why I-185 is essential for the state and local community.
Organizer: Beartooth Billings Clinic
Location: Lions Park (Red Lodge)
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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