Health care

A suicide prevention program that helps people safely store firearms and medications is expanding statewide.

Hospitals, mental health providers and organizations that work with older adults in at least seven states say they’re seeing more people with dementia in mental health crises. It can be hard or even impossible in some cases to find a mental health facility that will care for them during and after a crisis.

It’s time for Montanans on Medicare to choose their coverage. There is one notable change this year, fewer plans offered by private insurance companies.

State lawmakers say the City of Laurel’s decision to block water service to a proposed mental health facility may be violating protections for people with disabilities. Lawmakers may withhold state funding if the city doesn’t reverse course.

Open enrollment for the federal Health Insurance Marketplace starts Nov. 1. People with those plans faced higher premiums this year because of declining financial help from the federal government. Many Montanans chose lower levels of coverage or canceled their plans altogether.

It’s fall, which means it’s time to start thinking about getting your flu shot. There are no reported cases in Montana just yet, but the season is starting early in the Northwest.

State seeks public comment on proposed data center well in Yellowstone County; Herbicide treatment flights in progress near Dillon; Emergency drought assistance available to ag producers in 16 Montana counties. Federal grants give Montana ambulance services a $9 million boost

State workers will pay more for health care starting next year. State officials say that’s necessary because the cost of the state health plan was higher than expected. The state employees union struck a deal with the state to mitigate some of the price hikes for workers.

In most states, people with Medicaid coverage will have to prove they're working, volunteering or studying, starting Jan. 1. But Montana is starting that early, and it's sowing confusion and anxiety.

State employees will see big changes to their health care coverage next year. That includes increases to monthly premiums, deductibles and what workers pay per visit to the doctor’s office. The state needs to come up with roughly $70 million to cover state workers’ health care through next year.