PABLO — In the midst of the complicated Affordable Care Act and the approaching sign-up deadline, legislators are urging Flathead Reservation residents to take action.

“Well, I think if we can take anything away, it’s that we can’t not do something,” Kevin Howlett, the department head for Tribal Health and Human Services, said to close the open forum on the Affordable Care Act in Indian Country held at Salish Kootenai College on Thursday, March 20.

The event included a panel discussion, led by Montana state auditor Monica Lindeen, who was joined by attorney Christina Goe, Lesa Evers, the tribal relations manager of Montana Department of Health and Human Services, and Anna Whiting Sorrell, the Billings director of Indian Health Services.

Lindeen gave a powerpoint presentation explaining the role the Affordable Care Act plays in Indian Health Services, as the new health care bill includes many stipulations for federally recognized tribal members, including the option to be exempt from the program altogether, or to receive federal assistance, freedom to documents, and monthly enrollment opportunities if they choose to enroll on www.healthcare.gov.

“You have to do something,” Lindeen stressed to her audience. “You either have to fill out an exemption form or enroll.”

Since the Affordable Care Act passed, Lindeen has made it a point to educate the state of Montana about the changes it will bring to health care. Her office started statewide talks in September 2013, and began Indian Country meetings in January. Her visit to the Flathead Indian Reservation marked the last leg of her journey — she finished on Tuesday, March 25 at the Fort Belknap Reservation.

“The most rewarding part of doing this is the reactions. I like that people appreciate that we will talk to them about the facts — it’s a no-politics forum, because this issue has been so politicized. People just need to know the facts about it,” Lindeen said.

Since beginning her Indian Country talks, Lindeen has enjoyed the new panel of experts she has been able to travel with.

“I’ve worked with all of these ladies in other settings, and we know each other well, so it’s a good group. We talk a lot about these issues, and we’re happy to share our knowledge because we always want to work together for Montana,” Lindeen said.

Both Anna Whiting Sorrell and Lesa Evers gave statements about their hopes for the new health care bill.

“There are so many opportunities for the Affordable Care Act and Indian Health Services, and those who are joining us tonight show how important it is,” Sorrell said. “There are 195,000 people without health care in the state of Montana, and about 17,000 of them are Indians. Hopefully, this law will help those people.”

Evers also stressed the amount of people in Montana who lack health care. “We’re opening a new conversation,” she said. “And it’s really important, because it’s about the uninsured.”

Following the panel’s presentation about the Affordable Care Act, Montana state senator Christine Kaufmann spoke about her role as a health care navigator — a person hired and trained to answer questions about the enrolment process — and about Montana’s legislative decision not to expand Medicaid at the last session. She was followed by Lauren Wittorp, who presented a citizens’ initiative petition that required 24,000 signatures to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot.

As the main speaking events drew to a close, representatives from Montana’s private health insurance companies and SKC Clinical Application Coordinators stayed to answer questions about enrolment and health coverage.

“My office is open if you need help,” Lindeen said in her closing statements. “We answer about 40,000 to 50,000 phone calls each year, it’s our job to look out for the insurance customer.”