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Bridge Health Alliance launches statewide school health trust; board hears rollout
Summary
Bridge Health Alliance launched July 1 as a nonprofit school health trust participating with 243 districts and more than 15,000 employees; board members praised mental-health telemedicine benefits and asked about out-of-state access and balance-bill protections.
John Doran, executive director of Bridge Health Alliance, told the Board of Public Education the trust moved from concept to operational status on July 1, having enrolled more than 243 school districts and 15,000 employees and accepted a $40 million incentive payment from the legislature.
"House bill 332 required 150 school districts covering 12,000 employees to qualify the trust and earn that $40,000,000 incentive payment," Doran said. "Ultimately, Bridge secured partnerships with 243 school districts covering more than 15,000 employees." He described two participation tiers: a Prairie tier (level-funded for smaller districts that returns up to 60% of surplus as credits) and a Skyline tier that preserves autonomy and reserves for larger self-funded districts.
Board members asked how the trust handles care outside Montana and whether beneficiaries face surprise balance billing. Doran said Bridge partnered with Allegiance Benefit Plan Management (a Montana-based subsidiary of Cigna) to provide broad in-state coverage and seamless access to Cigna's national network for care across state lines. He said in-network arrangements include contract provisions to prevent balance billing.
The board did not take action on the presentation but welcomed the trust's launch; OPI and Bridge officials said they will continue to provide updates and answer district questions about enrollment cycles and effective dates.
