Montana Primary Care Association

Flathead County Receives State Grant for Health Center

Butte, Livingston, Libby and Billings Receive Dental Grants

3/26/2008
Sarah Elliott
406-444-9725
selliott@mt.gov

Jon Ebelt
Public Information Officer, DPHHS
406-444-0936

(KALISPELL) - Governor Brian Schweitzer announced today the Flathead City-County Health Department is the recipient of a state grant that will be used to launch a new health center primarily for low-income residents.

The Flathead Community Health Center (FCHC) first began seeing a limited number of patients just last December, but with the $1.29 million Expanding Community Health Care Grant the facility will be able to rapidly grow to serve those on Medicaid, the uninsured and others in need.

The FCHC will be set up for medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse services.

Until now, Flathead County was the largest populated area in the state to not have a facility where low-income residents could turn to for basic health services. Yet, according to the 2006 Census data, 35 percent of Flathead County residents, or 29,860 people, are at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty income guidelines.

"This service is long overdue in Flathead County," Schweitzer said. "I wish the Flathead Community Health Center staff all the best and I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into opening the health center. There is more work ahead, but things are off to a great start."

This one-time grant money will be used to hire staff, purchase office equipment and furniture. Plans have also been drawn up to remodel a section of the Flathead City-County Health Department building that currently houses the health center as the need arises. The FCHC is seeking federal money in an effort to become a Federally Qualified Health Center. If that effort is successful, any unused state dollars would then go to other grant applicants.

Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Joan Miles does point out the overall purpose of the grant is supply seed money for non-federally funded health care centers as a way to get them up and running and is not permanent funding. "However, once established, health centers like the Flathead County Health Center will be positioned to secure federal funding that is permanent," Miles said.

Before, the closest health center for Flathead County low-income residents was 89 miles away in Libby or in Missoula 115 miles away. Funds for this project originate from HB 406 the 2007 Legislature passed and Gov. Schweitzer signed into law.

In October 2007, the Flathead City-County Health Department agreed to provide clinic space, equipment and staffing on a limited basis until for the FCHC until funds could be secured. A couple months later FCHC opened its doors and began taking scheduled and walk-in patients.

Primary medical services will be provided to patients on a sliding scale based on income.

This payment policy is a tested and proven formula that takes into account one's ability to pay versus maximizing revenue to help the facility sustain services into the future. Consequently, the health center will also market to the insured as a way to boost revenue.

But, the FCHC grant wasn't the only funds being awarded on this day.

Schweitzer also announced over $700,000 in state grants have been released to community health care organizations in Butte, Libby, Livingston and Billings. The Medicaid Dental Access funding originates from HB 2 and expands dental services for low-income citizens in these communities.

Here's the breakdown of total funds each organization will receive and a brief description of how the funds will be used:

• Butte Community Health Center, $177,950. Dental services will be expanded for low-income senior citizens. Currently, there are no dental services on Friday's at the center.
• Livingston County Health Partnership, $333,000. This grant will help LCHP offer dental services. Plans are in the works to hire staff, including a dentist, and remodel the office space.
• Lincoln County Health Center in Libby, $107,000. New dental equipment will be purchased and the facility will undergo a remodel.
• Yellowstone County Health Department in Billings, 83,518. A mobile dental van will be purchased to provide on-sight dental care for six Billings nursing homes.

"Everyone deserves quality health care," Governor Schweitzer said. "My heart goes out to some of our senior citizens who can't afford dental care or uninsured families who are unable to afford health insurance for their children. The release of this grant money will go a long way in addressing some of these health care access problems in our state."

For more information about both the Flathead Community Health Center and the dental services expansion grants contact Brett Williams at 406-444-3634. Williams is the chief of the Hospital and Clinical Services Bureau for DPHHS.

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••••• PAST NEWS •••••

The Bureau of Primary Health Care is now offering grants that may support a Community Health Center in your area. This is an important opportunity for Montana communities and American Indian and Tribal organizations as applications from Rural and Frontier areas will be given priority.

For more information, call the Montana Primary Care Association
406-442-2750

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