Thursday October 15:
9:00-10:00 – Welcome and Policy Updates – a Snapshot of Healthcare Access and Looking Ahead to the 2027 Montana Legislature
Presenter(s): Olivia Riutta, MPCA
Stacey Anderson, Ascencion Strategies
Montana Primary Care Association’s new CEO and former Cover Montana lead Olivia Riutta will welcome us to the Summit. Join this opening session to hear about the state of health coverage and healthcare access in Montana and learn about recent and upcoming policy changes impacting healthcare access. Looking ahead, MPCA’s policy expert Stacey Anderson will help us prepared for the 2027 Montana legislative session.
10:15-11:15 – 2027 Montana Marketplace Carriers and Plans
Presenter(s): Jeff Swingley, Mountain Health Co-op
Hamza Dogar, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
Hear directly from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana and Mountain Health Co-Op about their 2027 plans and any notable changes consumers will encounter ahead of Open Enrollment. This session will include a presentation from each insurance carrier and a panel Q&A discussion from participants.
11:30-12:30 – Navigating Medicaid for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities
Presenter(s): Jessie Counts, Montana DPHHS
Kimberly Lamb, Montana DPHHS
This session provides actionable guidance on assisting aged and disabled Montanans through every stage of the Medicaid application process. Attendees will learn key eligibility criteria and required documentation to streamline the Medicaid application process. We will also address common filing obstacles and highlight resources to help clients apply for Medicaid with confidence.
12:30-1:00 Break
1:00-2:00 – Demystifying Montana Dental: Insurance, Medicaid, and Client Navigation
Marketplace dental plans are opaque, and navigating them can overwhelm patients and support staff alike. This session provides non-clinical navigators and community health workers with a straightforward playbook for managing dental coverage in Montana. We cover the basics of reading 2026 plan brochures, strategies to avoid waiting-period traps, and how dental annual limits flip the script on traditional medical coverage. Presenters will also review Montana Medicaid dental benefits, local access data, and best practices for counseling self-pay and uninsured patients using community safety nets. Leave this session with actionable questions and a workflow cheat sheet to improve your open enrollment intake process immediately.
Presenter(s): Kimberly Freeman, Freeman Quality Consulting
Tara Callaghan, MPCA
Friday October 16:
9:00-10:00 - Happiness Practices: A Taste of the Lay Counselor Academy
Presenter(s): Jamie VanderLinden, MPCA
Tierney Queen-Stewart, MPCA
Working in healthcare and social services can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges. Join this session to learn how happiness practices can strengthen resilience, support well-being, and help you thrive while continuing to care for others.
This presentation is a small glimpse of MPCA’s Lay Counselor Academy. For more information about the Lay Counselor Academy, please visit https://www.mtpca.org/programs/the-lay-counselor-academy/.
10:15-11:15 – Disability, Medicaid and Community
Presenter(s): Cassie Wick, Ability Montana
Christa Gabriel, Disability Rights Montana
Travis Hoffman, Summit Independent Living
What happens when health coverage is the key to independence, employment, and staying connected to community? Join The Collective Disruption for a practical look at disability, Home and Community-Based Services, and Medicaid for Workers. This session will also share how the Disability Advocacy Academy is helping people with raise their voices as we head into the legislative session.
11:30-12:30 - Community Justice Workers: Lay Advocates for Medicaid Administrative Hearings
Presenter(s): Hayden Ramsey, Montana Legal Services Association
In this session you will learn about an exciting new opportunity with Montana Legal Services Association, the Community Justice Worker Project. This project aims to expand access to justice for low-income Montanans by training lay advocates to represent beneficiaries in the Medicaid Administrative Hearing process. Join Hayden Ramsey, the project's coordinator, to learn more about how your organization can upskill staff to help patients understand the hearing process.