Hospitals

In a statement, a Billings Clinic spokesperson says despite efforts already underway to cut costs in every department, the hospital system is still recording “unsustainable monthly losses.”

Two of Montana’s largest hospital systems recently announced they intend to merge. Both Kalispell-based Logan Health and Billings Clinic say the merger will save money by keeping more patients in the state. But some experts worry the deal could increase health care costs for employers and workers.

A critical access hospital in rural central Montana will use millions of federal dollars to build a new facility in the community it serves.

As Montana officials seek to make nonprofit hospitals prove the benefits they provide the community justify their tax exemptions, industry leaders propose their own changes which state officials say would further limit the state’s authority.

House Bill 702 had barred employers from mandating vaccines or requiring employees share their vaccine status. U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that it was unconstitutional and conflicted with federal law.

Montana is signaling it might step away from an innovative way of setting the prices its public employee health plan pays hospitals for services, an approach that has saved the state millions of dollars and become a model for health plans nationwide.

How Republicans in Montana hijacked public health and brought a hospital to the brink

More than two years into the pandemic, hospital budgets are beginning to crack. One of the biggest drivers of financial shortfalls has been the cost to find workers.

In an email sent to employees, CEO John Hill said the decision was not performance related. He said rising health care costs, inflationary pressure and labor shortages are impacting the health care system’s revenue.

St. Vincent Healthcare will replace its main building with one that adds 42 rooms and 180,000 square feet to its Billings campus, the equivalent of almost two city blocks.