As part of a proposed overhaul to Montana's behavioral health system, Gov. Greg Gianforte's administration is considering infrastructure investments aimed at improving services for individuals with mental illness, substance abuse disorders and developmental disabilities, KFF Health News reported Jan. 27.
The proposed changes include relocating a 12-bed facility for people with developmental disabilities, ramping up renovations at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs and establishing a psychiatric unit in Helena.
Supporters of the plan argue these projects will fill service gaps, offering better support to individuals as they transition out of secure, state-run settings and back into their communities.
The Montana Legislature allocated $300 million to improve state services in 2023, and Mr. Gianforte's proposed budget for the next two years includes about $100 million in funding for 10 recommendations from a commission tasked with providing feedback on how to spend the money.
Of that amount, up to $32.5 million could be earmarked for building new infrastructure or renovating existing facilities as part of efforts to modernize the system. This could include a proposed 16-bed facility for patients no longer in need of intensive care at the Montana State Hospital and a $19.2 million investment to upgrade the infrastructure of the hospital — aiming to regain federal certification that was lost in 2022 due to staffing issues and decertification.