I-181 will give hope, attract research dollars

Our state cannot afford to ignore the very serious brain diseases and disorders and mental illnesses that affect tens of thousands of Montanans and their families. Montanans of all ages are impacted when our loved ones are dealing with devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, PTSD and depression. We strongly encourage all Montana voters to support the Montanans for Research and Cures initiative (I-181), which will responsibly fund innovative research toward treatments and cures, giving hope to countless Montanans.

If approved by voters, I-181 would fund Montana-based biomedical research into these escalating brain diseases, disorders and mental illnesses. We all know families who have been affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias, Parkinson’s, brain cancer, multiple sclerosis, autism, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, ALS, depression, addictive disorders or schizophrenia, as well as other diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Because only Montana-based, nonprofit organizations — like hospitals and the university system — would be eligible to receive the grants, this initiative facilitates local and broader access to clinical trials for Montana patients.

Organizations, such as the Alzheimer’s Association-Montana Chapter, the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Montana Chapter, and the Montana Parkinson’s Foundation are supporting this initiative because they know it will bring help and hope to people living with these diseases and their families.

Montana-based research will create jobs for Montanans and bring new scientists with their existing research grants into the state. There is also potential for substantial economic impact from preventing, delaying, innovatively treating or curing one or more of these diseases. Take just one disease — Alzheimer’s. The number of Montanans with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to reach 27,000 by 2025. Alzheimer’s impact on Medicaid costs alone are expected to rise from $140 million in 2015 to $214 million in 2025. The cost for caring for people in Montana living with Alzheimer’s and or a related dementia by 2050 will equal the total current state budget.  We can’t afford not to take steps to bend this cost curve.

Unfortunately, research funding for the National Institutes of Health has declined by approximately 25 percent in purchasing power over the past 12 years. With I-181, Montana can attract more research funding and world class doctors and scientists and we can retain young professionals as they pursue careers in research at home here in Montana. The initiative also states that the state of Montana could also share in any royalties resulting from research.

I-181 was specifically drafted to take into account the fact that only the Montana Legislature can appropriate funds preserving legislators’ authority. This initiative is funded by state general obligation bonds and the proceeds of these bonds, if appropriated by state legislative sessions, would be used to fund research grants to qualified Montana institutions. A 13-member panel of doctors, scientists, nurses and patient advocates will decide which organizations receive research grants. This panel is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Montana Senate.

This investment represents less than one half of one percent of the state’s general fund annually. By researching treatments and cures now, Montanans will save much greater amounts of the state budget on health care costs in future years. Bond interest rates are very low right now and there is still a lot of bonding capacity in the state of Montana so this will not impact other priorities such as infrastructure or education.

We need to do something to help our fellow Montanans living with devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s. Join us in voting “yes” on I-181 on Nov. 8.

Randy Gray, Former Mayor of Great Falls

The Alzheimer’s Association-Montana Chapter

Montana Parkinson’s Foundation

NAMI-Montana