Grant designed to improve health care for veterans
Rural health care in Montana just got a whole lot better based on the approval of a new initiative.
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus announced last week that Montana was one of three states selected for the program to benefit veterans in rural areas, including Lincoln County. In particular, the benefits help those in need of emergency care.
Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, championed Relief for Rural Veterans in Crisis legislation to provide grants to improve rural access to mental health services and other critical health services through the Rural Hospital Flex Program within the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. Montana was awarded nearly $300,000.
“There are too many Montana heroes out there suffering in silence and this program will go a long way toward boosting access to and improving the quality of care, especially when it comes to combat-related injuries,” Baucus said through a news release. “This is about bringing health care closer to where veterans live and helping bridge the gap between emergency trauma care and care received through the VA.”
Montana National Guard Adjutant General Brigadier General John Walsh said the grant will increase services available to service nembers and their families. Anna Whiting Sorrell, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services director, said her agency is looking forward to getting this project started.
“We’re thrilled to be able to work together with so many wonderful partners to bring this new program to veterans in our most rural areas,” she said. “This project will create community-based mental health and crisis intervention programs to serve Montana’s war heroes.”
On Aug. 23, Montana DPHHS was notified that it had been awarded $296,667 for year one of the program, with recommended support of $300,000 per year for years two and three.
Key provisions in the grant include:
• Provide access to and increase delivery of quality mental health services including development of crisis intervention initiatives.
• Improve screening, detection and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other combat-related injuries and illnesses.
• Increase appropriate enrollment and referral of rural veterans to medical facilities and programs operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Establish local coalitions with multiple partners in clearly identified regions.
• Expand existing networks including telemedicine networks.
The program aims to help first responders and law-enforcement professionals better recognize the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other combat-related illnesses or injuries that unnecessarily send veterans into the criminal justice system.
Alaska and Virginia were also funded under the program.
Lincoln County is included in Region 1 along with Sanders, Flathead, Lake and Mineral counties to be served under the grant.