50-4-104. State health care policy. (1) It is the policy of the state of Montana to continue to investigate and develop strategies that result in all residents having access to quality health services at costs that are affordable.

(2) It is further the policy of the state of Montana that:

(a) Montana's health care system should ensure that care is delivered in the most effective and efficient manner possible;

(b) health promotion, preventative health services, and public health services should play a central role in the system;

(c) the patient-provider relationship should be a fundamental component of Montana's health care system;

(d) individuals should be encouraged to play a significant role in determining their health and appropriate use of the health care system;

(e) accurate and timely health care information should play a significant role in determining the individual's health and appropriate use of the health care system;

(f) whenever possible, market-based approaches should be relied on to contain the growth in health care spending while attempting to achieve expanded access, cost containment, and improved quality; and

(g) the process of health care reform in Montana should be carried out gradually and sequentially to ensure that any undesirable impacts of the state's reform policies on other aspects of the state's economy, particularly on small businesses, are minimized.

(3) The legislature recognizes the need to increase the emphasis on the education of consumers of health care services. Consumers should be educated concerning the health care system, payment for services, ultimate costs of health care services, and the benefit to consumers generally of providing only those services to the consumer that are reasonable and necessary.