Health care

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.

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.

Federal funding for family planning clinics across Montana has been restored after the Trump administration froze the long-standing grant in April; The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is considering a major redesign of its flag.

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.

Montana pediatricians have released their recommendations for childhood vaccines this year. But those suggestions differ from new federal guidelines.