March 27, 2026
The President’s Message is published in the MHA Weekly News Report, a member-only publication of the Montana Hospital Association. To subscribe, click here.
We are gearing up for another exceptional MHA Health Summit, which kicks off in less than two weeks: April 8-10 in Butte. Don’t miss this important opportunity to get the latest on the RHTP straight from state leaders, sharpen your Rural Health Clinic operations, and elevate quality improvement. If you haven’t yet registered, there’s still time. But don’t wait—our discounted hotel room block ends soon.
This spring marks another important event: Montana’s 2026 primary election. Candidate filing officially closed on March 4. With the field of candidates set, attention turns to the June primary election, where voters will begin shaping the composition of the next Montana Legislature. For hospitals and health systems across the state, the run-up to the primary election represents a critical window—not just for observing races, but for engaging meaningfully with those who may soon be making key policy decisions impacting healthcare across our state.
Early engagement in the election cycle is essential. Building strong, productive relationships with candidates before they become elected officials lays the groundwork for more informed policymaking during the legislative session. Candidates are often eager to learn about the issues affecting their communities, and Montana’s healthcare providers can offer valuable, firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities facing patients, providers, and rural health systems.
The Montana Hospital Association (MHA) has created a set of practical resources designed to support successful interactions with candidates. MHA has developed and distributed customized candidate lists tailored to each member facility, enabling hospital leaders to easily identify and connect with candidates in their service areas. These lists serve as a starting point for building relationships that can extend well beyond the campaign season.
These candidate lists have been accompanied by an outreach checklist, talking points, and an elected officials conversation guide that offers tips for conducting productive and informative meetings. Facility tours, in particular, provide a powerful opportunity to showcase the vital role hospitals play in their communities and to highlight both operational realities and patient care successes.
Campaign season is the best time to begin building relationships with future legislators. By connecting with candidates now—before the demands of a legislative session begin—Montana’s hospitals can help ensure that future policymakers are well-informed, accessible, and prepared to support policies that strengthen healthcare across the state.
If you would like us to resend your facility’s candidate list or need help finding any of the resources mentioned here, please reach to members of our communications team: Katy Mack at katy.mack@mtha.org or Jenna Cederberg at jenna.cederberg@mtha.org.