News

Contact: Lauren Brendel, M.S.

Bozeman, MT [October 18, 2018] - Bozeman Health Foundation is pleased to announce a special fundraising effort to provide charity care for patients in the Big Sky community. Throughout the next year, Bozeman Health Foundation is committed to raising $120,000 in funds to be made available for patients at Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center needing financial assistance with their medical bills.

Since opening in December 2015, Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center has provided nearly $300,000 in patient financial assistance, helping patients to cover medically necessary treatments that they were unable to pay for on their own. Bozeman Health Patient Financial Services acts as a patient advocate and works with patients who express concern over their ability to pay for their healthcare needs to provide them with resources and help determine if a patient is eligible for financial assistance. While each patient and their need is carefully attended to in a personalized manner, patients who are eligible for financial assistance have their medical bills greatly reduced, and in some instances, patients will not owe anything.

"We want to ensure that everyone has access to care regardless of their ability to pay, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is about making a difference – a real difference in people's lives. But in order to make this happen, we need the community's support," stated Chris Darnell, Big Sky Medical Center administrator.

Charity care, and ensuring there are funds in place to help vulnerable patients, is a key component of the care Big Sky Medical Center provides to the community. And, thanks to the generosity of Big Sky community members Manny and Sue DiMiceli, Mary Grace Wilkus and Thomas Johnston, and Mike and Sue Arneson, the first $60,000 in gifts toward the $120,000 goal will be matched dollar for dollar.

In addition to announcing this special fundraising appeal, Bozeman Health Foundation also shared that charitable donations received will help advance its Caring Forward Campaign, with Big Sky Medical Center being one of the campaign's four fundraising priorities. That campaign has now raised $13.5 million dollars in community support toward its ambitious $15 million goal. The Caring Forward Campaign was announced in April of this year and is expected to come to a close at the end of 2019.

If you are interested in contributing or would like more information about this special fundraiser or the Caring Forward Campaign, please call the Bozeman Health Foundation office at 406-414-1085.