Tag: Rural

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Rural Montanans’ Access to Health Care

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill to permanently protect Montanans’ access to telehealth services. These services were used extensively during the pandemic and many Americans, especially those in rural areas of Montana, still depend on them to access care. “In rural states like Montana, many folks live great distances from their nearest health care provider—a trip to a hospital or doctor’s office is not only highly inconvenient, but can also be very dangerous in emergencies or severe weather. Telehealth helps Montanans in every corner of our state. Many Montanans and rural health care providers have come to rely on expanded telehealth services to ensure access to the care folks need.

Daines Announces Grants for MSU for Rural Healthcare & Asbestos Research

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced Montana State University (MSU) received $190,000 to increase quality healthcare services and for asbestos research.  MSU received $172,000 for the State Office of Rural Health (SORH) to improve access to, and the quality of, healthcare for rural Montana.  “I look forward to seeing Montana State University use this funding to expand their healthcare services to increase the quality of services for rural Montanans,” Daines stated. Kristin Juliar, Director of Montana Area Health Education Center and Office of Rural Health: “We find inspiration every day in the work of the healthcare organizations that serve rural and

Daines Announces over $400,000 for Rural Hospitals

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana State University was awarded $428,617 for the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center to improve services at small rural hospitals in Montana – all but one are Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). “Ensuring rural hospitals have the tools and training they need will provide a better healthcare system and better care for all Montanans,” Daines stated.  There are forty-eight rural hospitals in Montana which meet the requirements for participation in the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP), forty-seven of which are CAHs. Montana is one of the

Daines Announces over $99,000 for Polson Hospital

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that St. Joseph Hospital in Polson will receive $99,023 to address healthcare needs in rural areas.  The grant will be used by St. Joseph Hospital to engage a network of hospitals serving rural communities through development of a Western Montana Rural Nursing Collaborative (WMRNC). WMRNC provides a unique partnership of hospitals that seek to expand, enhance and improve access to services in rural communities and allow patients to receive high-quality care closer to home. “This is a collaborative project and a made-in-Montana solution that supports our nurses, helps lower healthcare costs and

Daines Addresses Montana’s Veterans Long-Standing Concerns

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today moved forward important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to healthcare services.  This afternoon, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes many of Daines’ reforms that address Montana’s veterans long-standing concerns.  “I am proud to secure important priorities for Montana on behalf of those that served our nation in uniform,” Daines stated.  Daines also successfully included an amendment during the committee process protects veterans’ ability to discuss with VA physicians the use of medical marijuana in states where it is legal.   The amendment would

Daines Makes Important Gains for Montana Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers.  “As a steadfast champion of our state’s number one industry, I work everyday to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are being heard and well represented,” Daines stated. “I was able to secure important provisions to sustain funding for initiatives to help farmers and ranchers with loans, help stop diseases that are encroaching our forests and expand employment opportunities for veterans in agriculture.”  “The Montana Grain Growers Association thanks Sen. Daines’ for protecting the ARS Insect Research Unit in Sidney and for his efforts to secure increased funding for the

Daines Announces Over $3 Million in Funding for Montana Health Centers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $3,118,584.00 in funding for community health centers in Montana to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care.  The Department of Health and Human Services will provide funding to improve community health and public healthcare services.  “Montana Community Health Centers provide critical healthcare services for Montanans, increasing access close to home,” Daines stated. “Through this additional funding these health centers will further enhance their quality and reliability of care for Cascade and Glacier Counties.”  Grants awarded today include: Cascade City – County Health Department: $1,494,954.00 Glacier Community Health

Montana Congressional Delegation Fights for Disaster Relief Funding

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester, Senator Steve Daines, and Representative Ryan Zinke today called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve the State of Montana’s funding request to help rebuild communities across Montana after they were devastated by a mid-April snow storm. “The resulting damage from this storm impacted Montana’s rural communities, severely damaged local infrastructure, and left thousands of residents and commercial customers without electricity,” Tester, Daines, and Zinke wrote in a letter to the FEMA Administrator.  “These communities urgently need federal resources in order to help them restore their infrastructure and way of life.” The storm occurred

Daines Hails Passage of Legislation to Improve Montana’s Energy Future

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of bipartisan legislation that works to improve the future of Montana energy. “I’m proud to see the passage of bipartisan legislation that protects Montana energy jobs, is critical to irrigate over 50,000 acres of cropland in the eastern part of our state and strengthens rural water systems that serve tens of thousands of Montana families,” Daines stated. “I’m working to provide certainty for our farmers, ranchers and communities by reducing bureaucratic red tape.” Click here to watch Daines’ statement. Click here to download Daines’ statement.  The Senate today passed the FY 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act

Daines Announces Nearly $7 Million in Critical Funding for Montana Health Centers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $6,989,615.00 in funding for community health centers in Montana to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care. The Department of Health and Human Services will provide funding to improve community health and public healthcare services. “Montana’s community health centers provide reliable and quality healthcare services to thousands of Montanans,” Daines stated. “Through this additional funding these health centers will be able to better serve rural communities and maintain the continuity of services.” Grants awarded today include: Lincoln County Community Health Center: $1,508,655.00 Montana Migrant Council, Inc.: $1,884,532.00