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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-18-25 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - How to reclaim Montana for MontanansFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Life Beyond Compliance To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]How to reclaim Montana for Montanans Date:Friday, July 18, 2025 10:40:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Every paid subscription will go toward offsetting the printing cost of our quarterly publication. This will allow us to distribute vital disability information to disabled Montanans who otherwise would not receive this information. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today! How to reclaim Montana forMontanans READ IN APP The One Big Beautiful Bill may have passed in Washington, but here in Montana, we’re left to deal with the fallout. And the truth is, our families, our neighbors, and our communities are being left behind. Over 234,000 Montanans across Montana access Medicaid when other coverage isn't available or affordable, many of whom are working essential jobs or caring for loved JUL 18 Montana Deserves Better Health Care Shouldn’t Be a Luxury ones, including 95,000 children and 20,000 seniors. Under the new federal cuts, 25,000 of them will lose coverage. That’s not just a number, it’s your neighbor in Havre, your cousin in Missoula, your friend from church in Glendive. For the 61,000 Montanans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, premiums are set to skyrocket. A 60-year-old couple in Kalispell could see their costs jump from $581 to nearly $2,400 EACH MONTH! That’s not sustainable. And for 26,000 they will lose coverage altogether. That’s not right. More than 35,000 families in Montana use SNAP to help put food on the table. But new restrictions could strip nutrition assistance from 22,000 of them, most with children, seniors, or people with disabilities. Hunger isn’t motivating, it is soul crushing. This isn’t about politics. It’s about basic human dignity. Montanans didn’t create this crisis, but we can lead the way in solving it. By investing state resources, we can: Protect Medicaid coverage for those at risk, Bridge the gap in ACA subsidies to keep insurance affordable and Preserve SNAP access for families who need it most, including those working hard in low-wage jobs, care-giving full-time, or facing health challenges and to support local grocery stores, support Montana farmers and sustain rural economies. Montanans can take action in many ways: Support local food banks in Montana by donating money, contributing food, or No Family Should Go Hungry Montana Can Lead How You Can Help volunteering your time. The Montana Food Bank Network is a statewide nonprofit that distributes food to more than 300 partners, including food pantries, shelters, schools, and tribal programs. Find your nearest local food bank Contact your state legislators to share what Medicaid, the ACA, and SNAP mean to you, especially if you or your loved ones access these programs. Contact your elected representative Send a message to the Legislatrue The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services plans to submit a Medicaid waiver application that will affect Medicaid Expansion policies, including community engagement and cost sharing. Comment on public policy changes Share stories and facts using #MontanaDeservesBetter Know your rights and seek legal help if needed. In this time of unprecedented change, Disability Rights Montana wants your input on how to move forward. What should we do next? What matters most to you and your community? Please take a moment to share your thoughts: Tell us what matters most to you Tell Us What You Think Classes to Combat Ableism Are you looking to level up your Civil Rights Knowledge and your Advocacy Skills? If yes, Disability Rights Montana has free trainings that will either get you started or sharpen your current tools to be a champion of yourself or a better ally to another. These trainings will equip disabled individuals and their families with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about financial planning, supported decision- making, and other alternatives to guardianship that promote autonomy and dignity. These sessions will focus on the rights of students with disabilities in educational settings, helping students and families navigate education laws and advocate effectively for inclusive and supportive learning environments that prepare them for adulthood. Schedule a class for your community If you would like to attend one of the trainings let us know and we will try to bring the training to your community. If you know of others who might also be interested in attending, please share that as well and we can coordinate on doing outreach to invite them. Finally, if you know of a local business who would like to sponsor the training, please let us know that too. When: July 21 2025, 11:00am-2:00pm Where: Elks Riverside Park, Great Falls Join North Central Independent LIving Services and Disability RIghts Montsna for Supporting Autonomy and Choice WhileAvoiding Financial Exploitation Getting the Most from Your Education Great Falls ADA and DisabilityCelebration Picnic food, games, and fun! This is a free event open to all. Come say hi, meet your community and celebrate one of the foundational pieces of law that allows disabled Montana’s to live the life they want to live! Share Life Beyond Compliance For questions, comments, or to get involved, just reply to this email or visit our website: disabilityrightsmt.org. You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. To help us build this library of content and to gain access to additional features, consider upgrading your subscription. Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe