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Billings Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana make deal on reimbursement rates

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Billings Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana make deal on reimbursement rates


Customers of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana can continue to use Billings Clinic providers within their insurance network, the two groups announced jointly Monday night.

Billings Clinic, Montana’s largest hospital, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana signed a multi-year agreement on medical reimbursement rates,a week before the current deal was set to expire, according to a joint news release.

Negotiations began at the end of 2024 with the hopes of reaching a deal before a March 31 deadline. The two sides agreed on March to extend the contract through April 15.

According to Billings Clinic CEO Dr. Clint Seger, the hospital had not raised its reimbursement rates in 10 years and was struggling with rising healthcare costs, which prompted the negotiations.

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The news release did not disclose details of the agreement, including its length or changes in reimbursement rates.

Here’s the full release:

Billings Clinic and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana have reached a new multi-year agreement which helps tens of thousands of Montanans continue to have access to Billings Clinic hospital facilities and services.

We are pleased that our new agreement allows us to continue to serve Montana communities with the care and coverage they need when they need it.

We have a shared commitment to delivering access to quality, compassionate health care to all who need it, and we look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship to fulfill that promise.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for April 18, 2025

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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at April 18, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 18 drawing

05-13-15-17-28, Mega Ball: 01

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from April 18 drawing

29-34-39-42-46, Lucky Ball: 16

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 18 drawing

06-12-13-24, Bonus: 03

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

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Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us.

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Showers return to SW Montana on Easter Sunday

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Showers return to SW Montana on Easter Sunday


BOZEMAN – A slight improvement in the weather for Saturday with weak High-pressure building over the region. Temperatures will be near to slightly above normal with most lower valleys reaching the 50s Saturday afternoon.

The next Pacific cold front arrives Sunday into Monday. This storm system will produce scattered rain or snow showers Sunday into Monday but it will not be raining and snowing for two days straight, this should be a scattered off and on type storm.





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Montana Senate advances main state budget bill

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Montana Senate advances main state budget bill


HELENA — House Bill 2’s initial debate on the floor of the Montana House took almost a full day. Things went much faster on the Senate floor Thursday, where they wrapped up their debate on the main state budget bill after just under three hours.

The Senate gave initial approval to HB 2, on a 27-23 vote – with nine Republicans and all 18 Democrats voting to move it forward.

(Watch the video to see the changes lawmakers approved to HB 2.)

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Montana Senate debates state budget

The bill includes roughly $16.6 billion in total spending over the next two years, with $5 billion from the state general fund. Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, who chairs the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, said the bill increased total spending by about 10% compared with the 2023 budget, and general fund spending by about 18%.

While the House went through each section of HB 2 in detail, the Senate generally gave only short overviews before moving on to debating amendments.

All together, senators considered 22 amendments Thursday. Most of them came from Republicans, led by Senate President Sen. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, who sought to cut back what they saw as excessive spending.

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“We came in with a surplus – a very large surplus – and I think we’ve lost track of exactly where that surplus, which is now negative, sits,” Regier said.

But senators only approved four changes, three of them from Democrats. They took off an amendment added in Senate Finance and Claims that increased funding for community colleges, restored funding for the pretrial diversion program, and removed millions of dollars in funding that would have paid to hire contract nurses at the Montana State Hospital – redirecting some of that money to fund nurse positions through the state.

“This amendment reduces contract labor, supports the state continuing to do what we asked them to do and hire state nurses at the hospital, and it’s going to save $35 million to the general fund,” said Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, who sponsored the amendment on MSH.

“If we’re concerned about the patients in the state hospital, you better not vote for this amendment, because they’re going to be left without nurses,” said Glimm, who opposed that change. “The reason that we haven’t hired state employee nurses is because we can’t get them. That’s why we’ve hired traveling nurses at a much higher rate.”

Jonathon Ambarian

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On many of the amendments, the vote was 27-23, with Democrats on the same side with the group of nine Republicans who have frequently broken with their party this session. Eight of those nine were among the Republicans who voted to advance HB 2 at the end of the debate.

Supporters of the bill said it was a good product.

“I think it’s a good compromise budget,” Senate Minority Leader Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade. “I think it meets the needs of Montanans in a fair and meaningful way.”

But the Republicans who opposed the budget said it was irresponsible not to do more to cut spending.

“We’re passing everything under the sun,” Glimm said. “I imagine that the governor’s going to veto his way to a balanced budget, because he’ll have to. That’s a job that we’re supposed to do, but we aren’t doing it.”

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The full Senate will need to vote one more time on HB 2 before sending it back to the House. If the House accepts the Senate’s changes, they can send the bill directly to the governor’s desk. If they don’t, the bill will need to go to a conference committee to hammer out the differences.





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