Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hi-Line Today: Fort Belknap Reservation Keeps Restrictions In Place
The Fort Belknap Community Council, citing the omicron-driven surge in cases, voted to keep covid restrictions through February 5th. Mask mandates remain in place, and buses, gyms and community centers are allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity. (Margolis, 1/11)
Daily Montanan: 50,000-Plus Montanans Expected To Enroll In Affordable Care Act Marketplace
The Montana health care marketplace through the federal Affordable Care Act has seen a 10% increase in enrollment compared with last year and it should set a new high mark for number of Montanans registered when the open enrollment period ends on Saturday. (Ehrlick, 1/11)
Montana Free Press: Gallatin County Ends Contract With Key Mental Health Provider
Gallatin County officials said Western Montana Mental Health Center has breached its contract, which will be terminated in 15 days. The county has been paying the organization $29,417.50 monthly to provide a range of services. One is the provision of at least one bed for temporary, involuntary holds at Hope House in Bozeman for people whose mental health crisis presents a danger to themselves or others. County officials say Hope House has been insufficiently operated at various times in recent years. (Silvers, 1/12)
KTVH: Health Leaders Monitoring Montana Omicron Spike
Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek, the acting state medical officer, said the state reported more than 6,000 covid-19 cases last week – more than double the week before – and hospitalizations rose 17%. Montana Hospital Association president and CEO Rich Rasmussen said they expect many more patients in the coming weeks, based on the patterns they’ve seen in other states. He said another problem is more health care workers – many of them vaccinated – testing positive for the virus and having to isolate. (Ambarian, 1/12)
Yellowstone Public Radio: Blackfeet Nation Pulls Back Covid-19 Restrictions A Day After Reinstating Them
A day after reimplementing strict covid-19 restrictions due to the omicron variant, the Blackfeet Nation now says it is retracting them. The tribe says masks are "strongly encouraged" but won't require them, and will recommend but not impose limits on gatherings and travel. Tribal Business Council Chairman Timothy F. Davis says things have changed since the guidelines were created 2020.(Bolton, 1/11)
(Helena) Independent Record: More Than 30 Covid Cases Confirmed In Helena Jail
More than 30 of the 96 inmates incarcerated at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center in Helena have confirmed cases of covid-19, Sheriff Leo Dutton said Tuesday. Four detention officers also have confirmed cases, he said. One of the pods in the jail has been locked down, Dutton said, and masks are provided to all inmates and staff. (Manning, 1/11)
Montana State News Bureau: Inspectors Investigate Patient Death, Staffing Issues At Montana State Hospital
An employee at the Montana State Hospital told investigators “care is not getting done and patients are dying from a lack of care" following an unannounced September inspection of the facility. The report by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services details findings of dramatically insufficient staffing — in one case an employee said she thought a patient's death could have been prevented if not for being short-staffed. (Michels, 1/11)
Montana Public Radio: Montana Hospitals Prepare For A New Wave Of covid-19 Patients
Omicron now makes up the majority of the covid-19 cases in the state. Head of the Montana Hospital Association Rich Rasmussen says Montana hospitals expect to see the number of patients needing care ramp up. Rasmussen adds that the omicron wave is coming at a time when hospitals are busy with routine health care procedures as well as cold and flu patients. (Bolton, 1/7)
Missoulian: Community Medical Responds To Nurses' Pay Demands, Says Pay Issues Will Be Solved By Next Week
Following accusations of underpaying and delaying hourly employees’ wages, Community Medical Center says it’s working to reconcile the situation and get staff paid by the end of this week. The problem has been attributed to a ransomware attack on CMC’s timekeeping software vendor, the Kronos Enterprise System. (Buchli, 1/10)
Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls Schools Temporarily Going Remote Due To Coronavirus Spike
More than 125 staff members were out for covid-related illnesses and the total number of students and staff members with confirmed covid cases was 185. The school district lifted its mask mandate at the beginning of the year. (Jordan, 1/10)
Flathead Beacon: Flathead Health Department Runs Out Of Covid Tests
Since Jan. 7 the Flathead City-County Health Department has been out of covid-19 test kits to distribute. The health department went into last week planning to request 1,000 kits from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and ended up receiving 700. Officer Joe Russell said he’s been in contact with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and that the county could receive more tests from the state agency later this week, but that DPHHS had run out of the tests. (Kordenbrock, 1/10)
