HELENA — After nearly a year of meetings and research, a state commission has released a draft report recommending how leaders can invest millions of dollars to strengthen Montana’s behavioral health system.
The Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission was launched during the Montana Legislature’s 2023 session as lawmakers passed House Bill 872, setting aside $300 million to improve the system over the next few years. The 50-page draft report includes 21 key recommendations and six “near-term actions” the state can implement immediately.
“This is a monumental project. Some say it’s impossible, but the committee, the administration, the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the lawmakers involved are prepared to rise to the challenge,” said state Rep. Bob Keenan (R-Bigfork), sponsor of HB 872 and chairman of the committee. “This is not a quick fix. The words ‘future generations’ are in the bill title and in the committee title. This is really a vision for the future, and it’s going to be one step at a time.”
Longer-term recommendations include attracting and training behavioral health workers, strengthening case management programs and expanding crisis intake and stabilization services.
“What’s been broken over the last five or six years is crisis response and essentially community-based services. It’s crippled the system and put a tremendous strain on state hospitals, prisons and emergency rooms,” Keenan said.
Keenan said the commission’s recommendation does not call for building a new state hospital in eastern Montana.
Jonathan Ambarian
The committee is scheduled to discuss the report at a meeting later this month. Keenan said he plans to present the report to the Legislature’s interim committee later in the summer, which will also have an opportunity for the public to comment at that meeting.
Leaders have already begun implementing short-term initiatives. Keenan said one of the most successful efforts so far has been allocating $10 million to provide financial incentives for Montana group homes to restore or expand their residential bed capacity. He also added another $5.8 million to the program to cover all eligible proposals received.
Keenan said he is optimistic about the growing interest in addressing behavioral health across the state.
“State hospitals and the entire mental health system have been largely ignored, with a lot of talk and no action,” he said. “But now, by a stroke of luck, people are willing to talk about mental health and the stigma has decreased. I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made and the public support we’ve seen from all segments of the community.”
