Rich Rasmussen, President and CEO
Montana Hospital Association
December 1, 2021

Montana hospitals have an unwavering commitment to protect the health of our patients, our team members and the communities we serve. Hospitals have worked to comply with the federal COVID-19 vaccination requirement as a condition of providing care to the state’s 524,000 residents who are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. With the federal COVID-19 vaccination requirement now on hold, Montana hospitals have ceased the implementation of the federal vaccine mandate and will focus on continued compliance with Montana state law.

Montana healthcare providers have been in the very difficult position of complying with conflicting state and federal laws. We value every one of our team members and it is unfortunate that they have been drawn into this conflict.

It is important to point out that the plaintiffs in this recent legal challenge are 10 states including Montana and the defendant is the Biden administration. Hospitals are neither plaintiffs nor defendants in the cases. Hospitals were simply following the federal mandate as a Condition of Participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. We remain committed to protecting and providing healthcare for our communities while ensuring the financial viability of our hospitals.

The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective tool for reducing disease and hospitalizations. Hospitals will continue to urge all eligible Montanans, including our healthcare staff, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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About MHA

The Montana Hospital Association (MHA) is a nonprofit organization with more than eighty members that provide the full spectrum of healthcare services, including hospital inpatient and outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, home health, hospice, physician services, assisted living, senior housing and insurance services. MHA is the principal advocate for the interests of its members in their efforts to improve the health status of the communities they serve and to make Montana a “Top 10 Healthy State.”