Southwest Montana News

Governor Greg Gianforte has announced a significant investment of up to $17.5 million aimed at enhancing access to community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities care in Montana. This funding marks the initial allocation from a larger pool of $300 million dedicated earlier this year by the governor to reform the state's behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems.

“After decades of applying Band-Aids to our broken systems and kicking the can down the road, we’re making a commitment and generational investment to get Montanans healthy,” stated Gov. Gianforte. He expressed gratitude towards the commission for its recommendation, anticipating positive impacts on healthcare delivery within Montana.

The Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission recommended this investment, which aims to address ongoing issues such as the backlog in forensic fitness evaluations at Montana State Hospital and increase bed capacity at residential facilities across communities.

Up to $7.5 million will be allocated for completing court-ordered forensic fitness evaluations at county levels, addressing a shortage that currently sees most evaluations conducted by a single psychiatrist at the state hospital. “This investment will boost the number of professionals qualified to perform these evaluations in our communities, and alleviate a growing backlog at the state hospital,” added Gov. Gianforte.

An additional up to $10 million will fund one-time grants for community providers offering behavioral health or developmental disability services. These grants are intended for purchasing or constructing new facilities, upgrading existing ones, and hiring staff to expand bed capacity.

“We want Montanans to have access to the care they need in their communities,” emphasized Gov. Gianforte regarding expanding local healthcare services through this initiative.

The $300 million funding was part of his Budget for Montana Families plan and followed his signing of House Bill 872 into law last June—a bill sponsored by Rep. Bob Keenan with Sen. John Esp's support in the Senate.

Chaired by Rep. Keenan and Charlie Brereton from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, BHSFG Commission continues recommending strategies like stabilizing service providers, strengthening workforce capabilities, increasing integrated care availability, and supporting facility establishment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Their next meeting is slated for mid-January where further developments may unfold regarding these initiatives.

More details about their efforts can be accessed via Behavioral Health System for Future Generations' page online.