$300M Investment: Revamping Montana’s Behavioral Health Services

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - In 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 872, to establish a ‘Behavioral Health System for Future Generations’ using a $300 million ‘generational investment’ to improve the state’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems.

At the State Capitol on Monday, Gianforte described the scope of the legislation.

Governor Gianforte Celebrated the $300 Million Investment in Behavioral Health

“Last June, working with the legislature, I was proud to sign into law House Bill 872, and that made really a historic $300 million investment in behavioral health, really reconciling and what we set out to create my budget for Montana families,” began Gianforte. “We knew we had to transform community-based behavioral health services in the state and care for people with developmental disabilities across the entire state.”

Gianforte acknowledged the fact that these issues have not been properly addressed in the past.

The Governor Said Previous Administrations 'Kicked the Can Down the Road'

“After decades of previous administrations really applying band-aids, and kicking the can down the road, we knew we had to make a big investment here, and I'm proud to report today that you all have followed through on the commitment we made to Montanans and with this generational investment in our communities to help people get healthier,” he said.

Gianforte addressed the individuals at the Monday meeting, thanking them for their leadership roles in this effort to improve behavioral health and developmental disabilities services.

“Thank you again to the community stakeholders who provided their voice, the tribal partners, medical professionals, people with lived experiences that contributed to your work, law enforcement and various other subject matter experts that you've sought out and gained their expertise and wisdom,” he said. “Together, you've made this historic project a reality.”

Gianforte Laid Out Specific Spending Commitments

Gianforte laid out some specifics about the financial commitment made through House Bill 872.

Health Insurance Costs Expected to Rise by Six Percent in 2025

READ MORE: Health Insurance Costs Expected to Rise by Six Percent in 2025

“$56.8 million to increase residential bed capacity in Montana; $6.5 million in grants to tribal nations for behavioral health services; $7.5 million dollars for mobile crisis response services. And just last week, working together, we approved $2.5 million dollars in grant funding to support specifically our rural communities.”

Some of the monies specifically will go towards improving case management and care coordination, expand the kinds of services offered, and to improve both recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce, especially to benefit those with developmental disabilities in home and community based settings.

View the Governor's meeting here.