Testimony
January 8, 2001

Good morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee.

For the record, my name is Susan Good and I am here today representing Allied Citizens for Healthcare Equity, ACHE. ACHE is a non-profit group dedicated to ensuring quality healthcare for Montana patients. We believe Montanans' best chance for quality care is by encouraging competition in the health insurance market.

ACHE supports this bill because while many people who purchase health insurance THINK that their policy pays for transportation by ambulance, they are stunned to find out, that oftentimes, their policy only pays $250 for the service. They are stuck with the rest of the charge and at a time when they can least afford it.

Rep. Lawson's bill will go a long way to making sure that ambulance companies get reimbursed for their charges. Under-reimbursement by third party payers, whether they be insurance companies or the government are bad news for everybody, especially patients. The cost shift is enormous, and is tantamount to a hidden tax that falls on Montana families.

Rep. Lawson's bill is a step toward making sure that patients are able to get the care they need, at a price they can afford and avoid a nasty shock when the bill comes due.

Allied Citizens for Healthcare Equity urges your yes vote on this bill.