Bill would help ease health care burden

As people of faith, we believe that each of us has a moral obligation to take care of each other. At one time or another, every one of our fellow human beings has a need that we can help ease.

We have an even stronger obligation to help the most vulnerable among us – those whose needs are often the greatest.

That obligation means more than making sure people have food and clothing. In today’s world, those basics fall far short of what anyone needs to better their lives, support a family, and build a future.

Taking care of each other also means helping people have the best shot at good health. Of course, there are no guarantees. A serious illness can strike anyone. But we also know that those who receive preventive health exams and who don’t have to decide between buying medicine or food are more likely to live longer and be more productive.

For almost 70,000 Montanans – our friends and neighbors – getting health care when they need it is as distant a possibility as winning the lottery. The reason: they can’t afford it. It’s not that they don’t work; they work hard. Unfortunately, either their employer doesn’t offer health coverage or they aren’t paid enough to buy it on their own. These are the people who watch our children, care for our grandparents, and do any number of other jobs we rely on daily.

These are people who are terrified of getting sick. Not just because of physical reasons, but because they are terrified of what it will cost them. They put off ailments as long as they can. Then things get worse and they end up in the emergency room. We know that this is the most expensive way to provide health services.

That costs them lost work, erodes their health, and costs the rest of us because when someone can’t pay, the hospital shifts those costs onto the rest of us.

There is a better way to take care of our fellow Montanans. Our state can do something about all this suffering.

We have an opportunity to do the right thing and ensure everyone can get care they need and can afford.

It’s called the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act (HELP), Senate Bill 405. This would not only help those left without health care. It would also bring billions back to our state, create jobs, and help lower health care costs for all of us.

As Easter approaches, we should turn our minds to the lessons our faith teaches us in Matthew 25:

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Our faith calls us to be kind to each other, offer a helping hand, and take care of each other. There are people dying in our state, and we can no longer sit around and wait. We call upon our legislators to help 70,000 live fuller, healthier lives.

Father Richard Francesco, St. Mary’s Catholic Community Church, Helena

Rev. Tyler Amundson, St. Paul’s United Methodist, Helena

Rev. Marianne Niesen, St. Paul’s United Methodist, Helena

Pastor Dave Merkel, Shiloh United Methodist Church, Billings

Pastor Wendy Ochs, Evangelical United Methodist Church, Billings

Rev. Michael Mulberry, First Congregational Church, Billings

Rev. Eric Thorson, Bethlehem Lutheran, Billings

Rev. Sarah Beck, Grace United Methodist Church, Billings

Rev. Marcia Lauzon, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Great Falls

Rev. Barbara Gwynn, First English Lutheran, Great Falls

Rev. Susan Otey, Christ United Methodist Church, Great Falls

Dr. Ronald C. Greene, Central Christian Church, Great Falls

Rev. Mary Wellemeyer, Interim Minister Glacier Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Kalispell

Pastor Dan Heskett, Northridge Lutheran Church, Kalispell

Rev. Deborah Schmidt Whitefish United Methodist

Rev. Mark MacWhorter, Grand Avenue Christian Church, Bozeman

Rev. John Soderberg, United Methodist Church (retired), Bozeman

Rev. Dan Wanders, United Methodist Church (retired), Bozeman

Rev. Glover Wagner, Pilgrim Congregational, United Church of Christ, Bozeman

Pastor Peter Shober, University Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Missoula

Associate Pastor Amy Carter, University Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Missoula