Big Sky Times

Governor Greg Gianforte today announced a $15.8 million investment in one-time grants to increase bed capacity for community-based residential providers offering behavioral health care or developmental disability services to Montanans. As recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission, the investment represents the next allocation of $300 million in funding secured by the governor last year to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems.

“Timely access to more residential services at the local level is critical and plays a major role in preventing the need for more intensive services down the road,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I thank the commission for advancing another recommendation that will help to transform the delivery of behavioral health care in Montana.”

Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton said the goal of the grant program is to stabilize or increase residential services across Montana and to build sustainable capacity, while also ensuring more Montanans can be served in clinically appropriate settings closer to home.

“This funding represents yet another key milestone to ensuring providers at the local level have the resources they need to serve Montanans appropriately,” Dir. Brereton said. “We know the current lack of residential services capacity in our state leads to inefficient treatment, challenges for patients discharging from inpatient settings, and missed opportunities to keep Montanans closer to home. We are eager to help solve this longstanding issue and will continue to advance projects like these with the needs of future generations in mind.”

Possible uses of the grant funds include helping purchase or construct new facilities, upgrading and maintaining existing facilities, and hiring and training staff to increase bed capacity.

Dir. Brereton stressed that residential treatment settings are an essential part of the behavioral health and developmental disabilities continuum of care by helping prevent more intensive service needs while also providing a step-down care option for individuals leaving inpatient settings.

In the coming weeks, DPHHS will work toward finalizing contracts with eligible providers who applied for funding and received an award. DPHHS will publicly announce award recipients once all contracts are effectuated.

Providers with questions are encouraged to contact BHSFG Program Manager Macey Curry at macey.curry@mt.gov or at (406) 444-2727. Additionally, more information about the Commission and its work may be found here.