Aaron Bolton
Northwest Montana and Statewide Health Care ReporterAaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
Have a northwest Montana or health care tip/story idea? Email me at aaron@mtpr.org or call/text at 612-799-1269
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Some state Medicaid services are on the chopping block due to a budget shortfall. The state health department estimates it will need at least another $7 million, but isn’t saying what services might be cut. -
Kids living in abusive homes or who are going through the court system sometimes don’t have anywhere to stay. When that happens, specialized youth shelters care for them, but beds can be full. -
Montana has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the U.S. The kind of psychiatric care kids need after a suicide attempt isn’t always available in-state. Many families are forced to send their child to a facility across the country. A new program near Bozeman hopes to make that less common. -
Lewis and Clark County health officials confirmed five new measles cases this week. According to a press release, the cases are not tied to local schools or daycares. -
Helena City Police will no longer be prevented from working with federal immigration enforcement. The Helena City Commission last week voted to rescind the restriction after legal threats from Montana’s attorney general. -
Montana health officials say they will roll out new Medicaid work requirements by July, months ahead of the federal deadline. There’s been worry the state is moving too fast and that Montanans who still qualify will lose coverage. The Montana Healthcare Foundation has released a list of actions it says the state can take to avoid that fate. -
States are rolling out plans for their share of a $50 billion fund meant to improve rural health care. In some states, the money may provoke rural hospitals to cut services. -
State health officials remain committed to a plan for implementing work requirements and other major changes to Medicaid months before a federal deadline. Federal officials aren’t expected to release detailed guidance until June, raising concerns about whether the state's plan is feasible. -
Montana’s top health official pushed back on allegations that a new mental health facility will harm Laurel residents’ quality of life. Residents have questioned the facility since it was proposed late last year.
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The Laurel City Council will consider whether to pause the annexation of property into the city later this month. The proposal comes as residents and council members accuse the state of not being transparent about its plans to build a mental health facility.
