Protecting the 340B program—and the care it makes possible for rural and low-income Montanans—remains a top MHA priority.

The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) is gearing up for an extremely busy winter and spring.

The MHA Board of Trustees met this week in Helena for a focused two-day strategic planning meeting. I want to share a brief update on the work we accomplished together and where I believe it positions us for the year ahead.

Healthcare is one of the priority industries identified in the JOBS406 initiative, based on projections that it will have one of the highest number of job openings without qualified Montanans to fill them in the coming years.

So what does a healthcare apprenticeship in Montana look like? It’s a training pathway for high-demand jobs that is driven by industry and led by the employer.

HPSA scores are re-measured about every three years, though there is no set timeframe. The recent rescoring, released September 23, has reduced (and weakened) the score or proposed program withdrawal for many Montana sites and counties.