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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Montana has long had one of the highest suicide rates nationwide. Many of those deaths involve firearms. Montana’s seniors are also dying by suicide at high rates. -
Federal lawmakers this summer created a $50 billion fund to stabilize rural hospitals and other providers. State health officials want public comment on how to spend that money. -
Public comment period opens for proposed Medicaid work requirements. Chippewa Cree Tribe awarded $2.5 million for hepatitis C treatment. Missoula County awarded $1.2 million for wildfire mitigation. Trump administration appoints new director of Montana's Rural Development office. UM, MSU report growth in enrollment and student retention -
Lawmakers are studying whether ambulance services should be taxpayer funded. Emergency medical services agencies told legislators that without funding support, many ambulance services won’t survive. -
People living in southwest Montana have long struggled to find care when they experience a mental health crisis. They often drove for hundreds of miles to get help. A new facility is opening to serve those patients. -
State health officials told lawmakers this week they will likely need more funding to implement Medicaid work requirements.
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Federal health officials have narrowed the recommendation for who should get a COVID vaccine. The committee that makes those decisions is meeting this week, and could make more changes. For now, insurance providers are still covering the costs for vaccinations. -
Planned Parenthood clinics in Montana are no longer able to bill Medicaid for any services. Federal appeals court last week overturned a previous ruling that blocked the policy from taking effect. -
This week on The Big Why: A listener is curious about recyclables that don’t get recycled in Montana. Namely, why is plastic recycling so limited? "We're all encouraged to recycle. But when it comes right down to it, what happens to the things we actually recycle?" -
State health officials are asking the federal government for permission to implement Medicaid work requirements early. Experts worry many people won’t be able to keep up with the additional paperwork, even if they are working. KFF, a non-partisan health policy group, estimates 34,000 Montanans could lose coverage.
