Health care

Federal health officials have narrowed the recommendation for who should get a COVID vaccine. The committee that makes those decisions is meeting this week, and could make more changes. For now, insurance providers are still covering the costs for vaccinations.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Montana are no longer able to bill Medicaid for any services. Federal appeals court last week overturned a previous ruling that blocked the policy from taking effect.

Federal funding for family planning clinics across Montana has been restored after the Trump administration froze the long-standing grant in April; The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is considering a major redesign of its flag.

State health officials are asking the federal government for permission to implement Medicaid work requirements early. Experts worry many people won’t be able to keep up with the additional paperwork, even if they are working. KFF, a non-partisan health policy group, estimates 34,000 Montanans could lose coverage.

Montana pediatricians have released their recommendations for childhood vaccines this year. But those suggestions differ from new federal guidelines.

Montana’s Medicaid office is struggling to process applications in a timely manner. The state is planning to fast track new work requirements and eligibility checks – which would mean even more paperwork for applicants and state officials.

A three-person crew walked away unharmed from a medical helicopter crash in Lincoln early Tuesday morning.

Montanans who need help shopping for health insurance or enrolling in Medicaid may soon be on their own. The Trump administration is cutting federal funding for a service that helped people get insured.

Community Medical Center in Missoula is the latest hospital to stop offering treatments like puberty blockers or hormone therapy to kids. The Trump administration has subpoenaed hospitals for data on gender affirming care, and threatened to prosecute providers.

Montanans with marketplace health insurance plans will pay significantly more starting next year. That’s because premiums are likely to spike just as federal benefits that help pay those bills expire.