Visits new facility at Rocky Boy Health Center

BOX ELDER, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte last week visited with the Rocky Boy Agency Tribal council to discuss recent investments in behavioral health care in north central Montana.

“Instead of turning our backs on those struggling with mental health and substance abuse, we’re working with our partners and making it a priority to get Montanans healthy,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It’s great to recognize the expansion of the Rocky Boy Health Center and Tribal council for investing in our rural communities along the Hi-Line.”

During a meeting in the new administration building at the Rocky Boy Health Center in Box Elder, the group highlighted the importance of enhancing healthcare infrastructure, improving access to medical services, and expanding mental health and substance abuse prevention programs.

Recognizing the importance of these investments for the next generation of Montanans, tribal leaders, legislators, and health center administration discussed steps forward to prioritize improving the delivery of behavioral health in Tribal communities and across the state.

During the meeting, the Tribal council expressed their wishes to continue collaborating with lawmakers to send recommendations to the commission on the initiatives.

Emphasizing the recent investment in the health center and community, the council also elaborated on their work to build housing near the health facility for the elderly.

This week, Gov. Gianforte announced an investment of up to $6.5 million in one-time grants to Tribal nations and Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs) to support and improve behavioral health services provided in Native American communities. 

As recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission, the investment represents the latest allocation of $300 million in funding secured by the governor last year to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health (BH) and developmental disabilities (DD) services systems.

The funding can be used to improve, repair, or expand existing behavioral health facilities, support mobile crisis response teams, and cover transportation expenses to facilities that serve individuals with behavioral health needs in a culturally relevant manner.

Signing into law House Bill 872 last spring, the governor invested $300 million to improve the delivery of behavioral health care in Montana and established the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission to make recommendations on how to allocate the investment.

Increasing Montanans’ access to affordable, high quality health care and improving the delivery of behavioral health care services in the state are among the governor’s top priorities.