Kalispell legislative candidates have been invited to a public discussion on how they intend to improve the Montana health-care system.

On Tuesday, a collaboration of health-care advocates is hosting Health Votes Montana 2016, a nonpartisan state legislative candidate forum focused on issues concerning patients, caregivers and the community.

The forum, open and free to the public, offers an opportunity to hear how legislative candidates from Kalispell view issues related to disease prevention and access to affordable, quality health care.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Flathead Valley Community College Arts and Technology Building, Room 139.

Kristin Page-Nei, with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said the forum also will give patients and caregivers a voice in front of their future lawmakers.

“I think there’s a lot of room to improve the discussion around health care,” Page-Nei said. “You hear a lot of general health-care promises, or the business side of health, but this is a time to hear some specifics — like, do they support or want to repeal the Medicaid expansion?”

She said as part of the Cancer Action Network, she wants to talk with lawmakers about what they can do to prevent chronic disease, such as advocating to fund tobacco prevention efforts to stop today’s teens from becoming a future generation of smokers.

The forum has been held for three election cycles throughout the state, but this is the first time it’s coming to Kalispell. All legislative candidates from Kalispell were invited to participate.

The event was created in partnership with the network, AARP Montana and Montana Primary Care Association.

“Together, we represent a diverse population, cancer patients, seniors, under-served populations,” Page-Nei said. “And we have a broad array of questions, like how do they intend to improve the quality of life for our growing senior population. We need people from both sides of the issue to be thinking about issues like this.”

To RSVP for the event, go to http://bit.ly/2clcXmw.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at [email protected].