Whether to join a new state self-insured healthcare program has been a question for Great Falls Public Schools this board.

Bridged Health Alliance was established by the 2023 Montana Legislature as a health and wellness benefits trust for public school systems.

Bridged Health Alliance is the formal name of the trust that was established by the Montana Schools Insurance Alliance.

Bridged is attempting to create a self-insured healthcare model exclusively for Montana public schools and needs a commitment to cover at least 12,000 employees from 150 districts to qualify for a one-times $40 million legislative incentive, according to GFPS.

Participating districts must commit to participate for five years with an exit option after three years if renewal costs exceed statutory thresholds.

Bridged representatives have meet several times with the GFPS insurance committee and each time the district’s committee has asked specific questions on the plan’s effectiveness, cost savings, and how aspects of the plan will work differently than its current health insurance plan.

The committee has suggested that the district wait to make a decision as it’s awaiting more information before making a final recommendation to the school board.

During the Dec. 15 school board meeting, Heather Spurzem, the district’s recently appointed human resources director, said Bridged has presented to the committee but hasn’t answered all of their questions or spoken to Benefis Health System or Great Falls Clinic yet.

“We think we should wait until more of those questions are answered,” she told the board, before making any decisions.

Bill Bronson, a school board member on the health insurance committee, said that based on the last conversation with the district’s consultant, the committee was recommending not joining Bridger without more questions answered.

He’d recently received a call from Barb Riley, Bridger’s board chair and Columbia Falls school district trustee, expressing concern that GFPS wasn’t indicating its intention to participate.

Bronson said he discussed their questions, suggesting they compile them for Riley and her board in the hopes of getting answers.

“Ultimately it’s a decision of every school district whether to participate,” Bronson said, and that the board shouldn’t feel any pressure to join as they have a responsibility to district employees. “This is a work in progress.”