Members help Win $90 Million Dollars in the 2009 Montana Legislative Session

Our top priorities in the Montana Legislature were to ensure affordable health care and a raise for home care workers, and expand access to home care services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Healthcare for Healthcare Workers (HB 2)
Last session we won access to health care for home care workers for the first time. In the 2009 session we successfully kept that program in the budget. Next session it will automatically be in the Governor’s base budget.

The Montana Legislature approved a $10.5 million dollar appropriation for 950 health care slots.

Wage Increases for Workers (HB 645)
We worked with Republicans and Democrats to make sure that workers got a raise. We worked with various parties to make sure that the money went to workers and not management.

The Montana legislature approved a $12.4 million dollar appropriation to give workers (home care workers and nursing home workers) a wage increase.

Expanding Home Care Services (HB 645)
Montana has a waiting list of hundreds of seniors and people with disabilities who need home care services but can’t get care. We worked with AARP and other advocates on a proposal to expand home and community based services.

The Montana Legislature approved a $8.9 million dollar appropriation to expand home and community based services.

Provider Rate Increase (HB 545)
We worked with other advocates to ensure a 2% provider rate increase. This money will help home care agencies and nursing home facilities maintain the current level of services to clients and residents avoid any staff cuts.

The Montana Legislature approved a $60 million dollar appropriation for a 2% provider rate increase that will improve the working conditions for long-term care workers.

Caregivers Lobby Legislators in Helena

(Thursday, January 29) -- Dozens of SEIU Healthcare 775NW members from across Big Sky Country - from Libby to Lame Deer - descended on the State Capitol Jan. 28-29 for our first ever Montana Lobby Days. We advocated for health care and living wages for caregivers. We urged legislators to maintain support for two policies we won during the 2007 legislative session:

• The first gave a modest hourly raise to in-home caregivers and other low-paid workers who attend to some of the state’s most vulnerable people.
• The second ensured that those same workers would have access to affordable health care.

"This is an opportunity for legislators to hear directly from the low-wage workers who help vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities live with independence and dignity in their own homes," said Ted Dick, SEIU's Montana political director.

"[It's also an opportunity] to learn why improved wages and affordable health care is critical to maintaining a quality and reliable workforce to care for these vulnerable residents."

Homecare workers in Montana typically make between $9 and $10 dollars an hour. Almost 700 of the 1800 in-home caregivers in Montana are members of SEIU.

Over 40 legislators and allies attend Legislative Reception

A Legislative Reception was held on Jan. 28. Attendees included Speaker of the House of Representatives Bob Bergren, Montana State Auditor Monica Lindeen, the Attorney General Steve Bullock, Deputy Insurance Commissioner Walt Schweitzer (and the Governor’s brother), key union leaders and a number of health care advocates.

After the reception, members stayed to watch Governor Brian Schweitzer deliver the State of the State address.


“So, can we count on your vote?”
After a march and rally, and brief remarks from Rep. Mike Cooney (D-Helena) and Rep. John Brueggeman (R-Polson), caregivers got down to business.

In a series of individual meetings with all of the legislators who serve on the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, members asked for commitments on our top priorities - funding for Health care for Health care Workers and a slight increase in wages for caregivers.

Members met with the following committee members: Chairwoman Rep. Teresa Henry; Vice Chair Sen. Dave Lewis; Rep. Penny Morgan; Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez; Rep. Don Roberts; Sen. John Esp; Sen. Trudi Schmidt; and Sen. David Wanzenried.

At the end of the day, members got commitments of support from five of the eight committee members - with some legislators expressing support “budget permitting.”


Local News Coverage
Editorial: Beef up home health care - Helena Independent Record (Feb. 4, 2009)
In-home care at heart of two bills- The Missoulian (Feb. 2, 2009)
In-home health care measures proposed- Billings Gazette (Feb. 1, 2009)
Lawmakers eye care programs - Helena Independent Record (Feb. 1, 2009)

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