"Only a single-payer system will meet the stated goals of President (Barack) Obama, by both providing heath care for all and bringing costs down significantly," says Rick Meis, an organizer of the Bozeman rally.

National health insurance, known as a "single-payer" system of financing health care, would provide the same taxpayer-funded health insurance for all citizens.

The government would become the "single payer" of basic medical bills, negotiating payment amounts with private physicians, hospitals and other providers. This public insurance would largely replace private health insurance and cover all citizens equally.

Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a key player in health reform legislation this year, won't support a single-payer system and says it won't be considered in the reform discussions.

Single-payer advocates packed many of the Baucus-sponsored public "listening sessions" held across the state last week, and have scheduled public rallies this Friday in Missoula, Billings, Helena, Butte, Bozeman and Great Falls.

Judy Fay of Montanans for Single-Payer said the rallies will give people a chance to show their public support of the idea: "It's going to be a wonderful day. I think it will be a united voice."

Attending the Helena rally will be Carol Paris, one of several physicians who were arrested last month in Washington, D.C., while protesting before a Finance Committee health care forum chaired by Baucus. Paris is a neurologist in Maryland.

Baucus staffers met last week in Montana with four single-payer advocates, who asked that Baucus become a co-sponsor of a single-payer bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

The single-payer supporters also asked Baucus to schedule a Senate hearing on a single-payer system and to ask the Congressional Budget Office to perform a financial analysis of national health insurance, to see how much it would cost versus our current health system.

A Baucus spokesman said this week the senator won't be co-sponsoring Sanders' bill and that it's unlikely he'll ask the CBO to study a single-payer system, "because of time constraints."

Baucus is expected to introduce a comprehensive health reform bill this month.

The Finance Committee examined a single-payer system last June, and Baucus felt instead that the United States needs a "uniquely American" solution to its health care problems, the spokesman said.

TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Missoula: Noon, in front of Baucus' office, 218 E. Front St.

Billings: 10 a.m., 1201 Grand Ave., in front of U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg's office. A delegation from the rally will visit Baucus's office in Billings.

Helena: Noon, Great Northern Center Amphitheater, Great Northern Boulevard

Butte: Noon, in front of Baucus's office, 27 N. Wyoming.

Bozeman: Noon, in front of the Federal Building, 32 E. Babcock.

Great Falls: Noon, in front of Baucus' office, 113 Third St. N.