Signers include leaders from 60 hospitals across Montana
February 11, 2026

We stand together as 60 hospitals that signed on to this letter to state: we don’t think healthcare should be political, but when we see political campaigns spreading misinformation about our state’s healthcare, we will set the record straight.

Fact: Medicaid is essential to keeping our hospital doors open and reducing the burden of uncompensated care that would otherwise fall on taxpayers.

Medicaid ensures Montanans, especially those in rural communities, can receive care close to home rather than delaying treatment or traveling a hundred miles or more. It has also dramatically strengthened our ability to respond to the opioid crisis and other substance use disorders, while providing critical, stable funding for mental health services in communities where those resources are often scarce.

A healthy workforce is the foundation of Montana’s small-business economy, and Medicaid plays a key role in keeping people working. It helps reduce absenteeism, lowers health-related costs, and allows workers to seek care early instead of waiting until a preventable condition becomes a medical emergency. Nearly all Montanans enrolled in Medicaid expansion are working.

Unfortunately, national groups are now renewing their attacks on Montana’s Medicaid solution and the legislators who supported it.

Ending the policy would increase healthcare costs, increase pressure on local taxpayers, and threaten the financial stability of hospitals across our state. The ripple effects would be felt in every community and throughout Montana’s economy.

That’s why Montana’s hospitals, along with doctors, nurses, behavioral health providers, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, and AARP Montana, have consistently recognized that Medicaid works for Montana. We are grateful to the legislators who looked at the facts, listened to their communities, and voted to renew this critical program – a decision signed into law by Governor Gianforte.

The reality is clear: this debate is not being driven by Montanans. Recent polling shows that 85 percent of Montanans support keeping Montana Medicaid as it is today.

Montana has spent more than ten years designing its own version of a Medicaid program that gets results and does it with less taxpayer money than most other states in the nation. Instead of being attacked, these leaders deserve thanks for standing up for Montana healthcare, a strong economy, and a responsible state budget.

• Aubrey Peterschick, CEO, Advanced Care Hospital of Montana, Billings
• Taylor Rose, CEO, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare, Dillon
• Abby Lotz, CEO, Beartooth Billings Clinic, Red Lodge
• John Goodnow, CEO, Benefis Health System, Great Falls
• Janice Woodhouse, President, Benefis Missouri River Medical Center, Fort Benton
• Louie King, President, Benefis Teton Medical Center, Choteau
• Kathryn Bertany, MD, CEO, Bozeman Health and Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center
• Kristi Gatrell, CEO, Big Horn Hospital, Hardin
• Ron Wiens, CEO, Big Sandy Medical Center
• Clint Seger, MD, CEO, Billings Clinic, Logan Health, Kalispell & Logan Health – Whitefish
• Justin Tiffany, CEO, Billings Clinic Broadwater, Townsend
• John Bishop, CEO, Bitterroot Health, Hamilton
• Tadd Greenfield, CEO, Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, Libby
• Cody Langbehn, CEO, Central Montana Medical Center, Lewistown
• Gregory Hanson, MD, President/CEO, Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Plains
• Meg Hickey-Boynton, CEO, Community Hospital of Anaconda
• Greg Cook, CEO, Community Medical Center, Missoula
• Darrell Messersmith, CEO, Dahl Memorial Healthcare, Ekalaka
• Kody Brinton, CEO, Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center, Scobey
• Jaena Richards, CEO, Deer Lodge Medical Center
• Nickolas Dirkes, CEO, Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Glasgow
• Parker Powell, CEO, Glendive Medical Center
• Brian Huso, CEO, Granite County Hospital District, Philipsburg
• Mark Robinson, CEO, Great Falls Hospital
• Benjamin Uhlich, President and Chief Nursing Officer, Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital, Miles City
• Karen Costello, President, Intermountain Health St James Hospital, Butte
• Lee Boyles, Market President, Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, Billings
• Bruce Whitfield, CEO, Livingston HealthCare
• Cherie Taylor, President, Logan Health – Chester & Logan Health – Cut Bank
• Vicki Newmiller, President, Logan Health – Conrad & Logan Health – Shelby
• Allen, Rohrback, CEO, Madison Valley Medical Center, Ennis
• Jacque Gardner, CEO, McCone County Health Center, Circle
• Roger Fisher, Interim CEO, Northeast MT Health Services, Wolf Point
• Kevin Harada, MD, President and CEO, Northern Montana Hospital, Havre
• Jo Tharp, CEO, Phillips County Hospital, Malta
• Ian Peterson, CEO, Pioneer Medical Center, Big Timber
• Roger Fisher, Interim CEO, Poplar Community Hospital
• Megan Kalfell, CEO, Prairie County Hospital District, Terry
• Caryl Perdaems, CAO, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson
• Bill Calhoun, Chief Executive, Providence MT, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula
• Jonathan Forte, President/CEO, RiverStone Health, Billings
• Jamason Schmidt, CEO, Roosevelt Medical Center, Culbertson
• Mindy Price, CEO, Rosebud Health Care Center, Forsyth
• Tracy Anderson, CEO, Roundup Memorial Healthcare
• Jim Gillhouse, CEO, Ruby Valley Medical Center, Sheridan
• Kody Nelson, CEO, Sheridan Memorial Hospital, Plentywood
• Craig Aasved, CEO, Shodair Children’s Hospital, Helena
• Jennifer Doty, CEO, Sidney Health Center
• Steve Todd, CEO, St. Luke Community Healthcare, Ronan
• Wade Johnson, CEO, St. Peter’s Health, Helena
• Andy Dreesen, CEO, Stillwater Billings Clinic, Columbus
• Rebecca Shackelford, Administrator, Sweet Memorial Nursing Home, Chinook
• Belle Williams, CEO, The Rehabilitation Hospital of Montana, Billings
• Donna Neste, CEO, Vista Plains Health, Harlowton