Montana commission recommends $30M+ in ARPA spending for health care initiatives

HELENA — A state advisory committee has finalized its suggestions on methods to spend greater than $30 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for well being care initiatives.

At a gathering Friday, the ARPA Well being Advisory Fee backed six proposals from the Montana Division of Public Well being and Human Companies. DPHHS director Charlie Brereton mentioned their focus was on “one-time-only” funding alternatives.

One of many greatest deliberate expenditures could be $15.5 million to help the state and native public well being workforce and knowledge programs. That features cash to proceed county and tribal public well being positions created by ARPA funding that was set to run out subsequent June – eight epidemiologists and about 13 illness intervention specialists, public well being nurses and different positions. The funding will now lengthen them by November 2027.

The Affiliation of Montana Public Well being Officers supported the proposal, saying public well being departments have struggled with workforce capability, and the addition of ARPA funding had helped them rebuild that.

Some Republican lawmakers on the fee opposed the plan, saying they had been involved it was basically creating everlasting positions that the state would possibly finally should pay for.

“This was the entire narrative the entire time that the Legislature was anxious about, planting a seed we’re going to should water afterward,” mentioned Rep. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell.

Brereton mentioned DPHHS has made clear to native governments that this funding is for a restricted time, however the federal authorities might effectively present continued funding sooner or later.

“There could be no expectation, definitely below my management right here at DPHHS, that the state would put forth basic fund {dollars} to proceed these positions,” he mentioned.

The fee additionally voted to authorize one other $14.4 million to a program that gives COVID-19 testing sources for colleges and little one care amenities in order that they’ll stay open for in-person providers.

Final yr, the fee made about $18 million obtainable for this initiative. Up to now, colleges have solely used about $5.2 million of that.

Brereton mentioned federal guidelines closely restricted what different choices that they had for spending this cash. He mentioned the CDC allowed it to be expanded to little one care after it was initially open solely to Ok-12 colleges, however they rejected a number of different requests for extra flexibility. He mentioned DPHHS needed to be able to spend the complete quantity obtainable in case of an surprising want.

In a single case, leaders had been capable of redirect unused funds. The fee authorized shifting $2.5 million to supply one-time $1,250 funds to help about 2,000 kids in non permanent foster care placements. Leaders mentioned individuals caring for youngsters concerned with the Little one and Household Companies Division have been hit notably onerous by inflation.

The cash had initially been put aside for households that obtain Supplemental Vitamin Help Program advantages, to encourage people to get new or improved employment. DPHHS distributed slightly below $129,000 to 186 households by that program. Brereton mentioned that they had exhausted their efforts to attach eligible households with the profit, together with contacting all SNAP recipients and following up instantly with those that appeared to qualify.

Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, mentioned she was grateful for the foster care help proposal, and she or he hoped the state would proceed the potential for elevating foster care funds.

“It’s onerous to place a greenback quantity on the worth of investing in kids who’ve been abused or uncared for,” she mentioned.

Different suggestions the fee endorsed Friday embody:

• $1.2 million for the State Public Well being Laboratory to improve its tools for testing for COVID and different illnesses, and to conduct wastewater testing to watch illness tendencies.
• $866,000 to help Montana Space Companies on Getting older, create a strategic plan for senior facilities and practice medical insurance counselors to work with Native Individuals.
• $121,000 to help the workforce at Montana’s 4 Facilities for Impartial Dwelling, which serve individuals with disabilities.

As with all ARPA advisory fee suggestions, Gov. Greg Gianforte should give last approval earlier than the cash is formally allotted.