Montana Healthcare Foundation Seeks Trustees

The Search and Screening Committee of the Montana Healthcare Foundation seeks applications from interested Montanans who wish to serve as Foundation trustees. Five trustees will be selected to govern the Foundation.

The Foundation will provide financial support to improve the quality, availability, and awareness of healthcare programs and services for Montanans. Within this general purpose, the trustees will make determinations of specific programs and services, which could change from time to time, depending upon the trustees’ judgment of Montanans’ healthcare needs.

Attorney General Tim Fox designated the Foundation to receive $40.2 million upon the closing of the sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana to Health Care Service Corporation. The Foundation will receive additional funding upon the subsequent sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana assets.

“Applicants should review the Selection Criteria which are posted on the Foundation’s website, http://www.montanahealthcaref oundation.org,” according to E. Edwin Eck who is the Interim Trustee of the Foundation. “Applicants should have an interest in, and concern for, healthcare programs and services for Montanans. Applicants are not required to be experts in medicine or in healthcare. The Declaration of Trust contemplates that the trustees may establish one or more advisory committees to provide advice and recommendations regarding the Foundation’s programs,” Eck added.Those ineligible to serve as a trustee include anyone who is an officer, director, or staff member of either Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana or Health Care Service Corporation. Public officials, elected or appointed, may not serve on the Foundation board.

Individuals interested in serving as a trustee must complete the application form which can be found on the Foundation’s website. Applications and supporting documents must be submittedelectronically in PDF format to MontanaHealthCareFoundation @gmail.comNO LATER THAN August 23, 2013.

People who wish to nominate someone to be a trustee should send a nominating letter, along with the nominee’s contact information, to MontanaHealthCareFoundation @gmail.com NO LATER THAN AUGUST 9, 2013. The Foundation will contact those nominees and urge them to apply.

Karen Fagg of Billings, Jim Soft of Billings, and E. Edwin Eck of Missoula constitute the Foundation’s Search and Screening Committee. That Committee will submit a list of at least five trustee applicants to Attorney General Tim Fox this fall. The Attorney General may appoint some or all of the applicants recommended by the Committee or may request names of additional applicants if he feels some do not meet the selection criteria.

Two of the five trustees will serve a term of six years. Two trustees will serve a term of five years. One trustee will serve a term of four years.

If you have any questions, contact the Interim Trustee, E. Edwin Eckby email at MontanaHealthCareFoundation @gmail.com, by U.S. mail at P.O. Box 7042, Missoula, MT 59807, or by telephone, 243-6534.