The state psychiatric hospital has a new CEO. This will be the fifth leader of the embattled facility in the past four years.
State health officials announced Kevin Flanigan’s resignation late Friday afternoon. Flanigan served as the Montana State Hospital’s CEO for one year.
When Flanigan was hired, the state health department said he would permanently serve in the role. In a statement, the department said Flanigan “decided to conclude his service.” Officials did not say why he resigned.
Flanigan will be replaced by Daniel Bemporad. Bemporad previously worked at the hospital.
He will be taking over as the facility prepares to apply for federal recertification. Federal officials pulled Medicaid and Medicare funding after patient deaths in 2022. That loss has cost the state millions of dollars.
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State lawmakers have overridden Gov. Greg Gianforte’s veto of a bill that will pay county jails for holding inmates awaiting space at the state psychiatric hospital. -
The state health department is offering $6.5 million in grant funds to help county jails offer mental health evaluations, medication and stabilization services to inmates. The hope is that inmates on the waiting list for care at the Montana State Hospital can get that care in jail instead. -
The state health department could be split in half under a bill that would break up the state’s largest agency. -
Montanans with severe mental illnesses that are accused of crimes can languish in jail for more than a year as they wait for a bed at the state psychiatric hospital. New legislation would build a facility for those patients in eastern Montana. -
Montanans living with severe mental illness are cycling in and out of ERs, jails, shelters and the state psychiatric hospital. Many never get the long-term help they need. One Missoula woman has been caught in that cycle for years. Her daughter uprooted her life to help. MTPR's Aaron Bolton brings us their story and reports on whether proposed reforms to the state mental health system offer them hope.
