Southwest Montana News

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton have announced an expansion of behavioral health services in Montana. This development follows the approval of a waiver by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), allowing DPHHS to offer three new Medicaid-funded services under the state's Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment (HEART) program.

Governor Gianforte stated, "After decades of applying Band-Aids to our broken system and kicking the can down the road, we’re making great strides in our overall effort to build up the state’s continuum of care for those struggling with behavioral health." He commended DPHHS for their efforts in advancing this initiative.

The waiver facilitates three new services aimed at supporting Montanans dealing with addiction and mental health issues. These include assistance in securing stable housing, incentives for meeting treatment goals, and services for incarcerated individuals 30 days before their release from prison.

The HEART Initiative is designed to expand treatment and recovery services for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Introduced by Governor Gianforte early in his tenure, it aims to support a comprehensive range of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs across communities.

Director Brereton remarked, "Our DPHHS team has put tremendous work into negotiating Montana’s HEART waiver on behalf of Governor Gianforte, and we’re proud to announce this significant milestone that opens new treatment doors for individuals."

The newly approved services are Tenancy Supports, Contingency Management, and Justice-Involved Reentry Services. These were made possible through a federal 1115 waiver approved by CMS.

Tenancy Supports will assist Medicaid recipients with severe mental illness or substance use disorder who face housing instability or homelessness. Eligible individuals must meet specific risk criteria such as homelessness or frequent institutional stays. A provider workgroup has been established to guide these services' implementation.

Contingency Management offers small motivational incentives to individuals meeting treatment goals. It targets Medicaid members aged 18 or older diagnosed with stimulant use disorder. Director Brereton noted, “This model has demonstrated robust outcomes for individuals with stimulant disorder.”

Justice-Involved Reentry Services will commence in late 2025, providing targeted Medicaid services to eligible justice-involved populations before their release from incarceration. The focus will be on those aged 18 or older with substance use or mental health diagnoses.

Training sessions will be available soon for providers interested in offering Tenancy Supports and Contingency Management before these programs become accessible to Medicaid members later this year.