A total of 51,134 Montanans signed up for a health care plan on the federal exchange during the enrollment period a jump of 14% over the previous year. Nationally a record-high 14.5 million people enrolled on the exchange established under the Affordable Care Act an increase of 21% over the previous year. That could increase as the enrollment...
Rapid COVID-19 Tests To Arrive Next Week
Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services has begun shipping 650,000 at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to county and tribal public health departments for distribution. When announcing the state had first acquired the tests Governor Greg Gianforte said every community needs to do their part to end the pandemic.
DPHHS Issues Guidance for Health Care Facilities & Providers For Federal Mandate
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has issued guidance for state health care facilities and providers with respect to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services COVID-19 vaccine mandate. It requires Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities to establish a policy ensuring that all covered staff have been vaccin...
Rally In Sweet Grass Set To Protest Border Vaccine Mandate
A number of rallies are scheduled to take place Saturday at noon along the U.S.-Canadian border to protest vaccine mandates for those crossing the border including the port of entry at Sweet Grass. Michael Wilson owner and CEO of Whitewood Transport out of Billings recently detailed the impact that will have on the trucking industry.
Free Tax Assistance Available To Vulnerable Montanans
Tax season is here and Montanans have options for receiving help possibly for free. Tax Help Montana helps older folks and families with low-to-moderate incomes. Chastity Roofner directs Rural Dynamics’ Tax Help Montana program. She says tax season is a good time to anticipate what changes there might be to your taxes in 2022 and also to cons...
Former Budget Director Looks Back On Current State Budget
Former State Budget Director Kurt Alme was a guest on Voices of Montana Wednesday. He was involved in crafting Montana’s current budget and described its condition reflecting on how it was developed.
Superintendent Arntzen Provides Update On ARPA Education Spending
The Legislature’s Education Interim Committee recently met in Helena to provide updates on a number of issues including education tax credits the Montana University System staffing and program spending. On program spending Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen touched on the state’s current status of elementary and secondary schoo...
Billings Police Chief Comments On Recent Crime Trends
Killings continue in the state’s largest city Billings but there is good news mixed in with it. Police Chief Rich St. John says law enforcement is keeping on top of it.
Student-loan Program Provides Benefits To Public Servants
Changes to the student-loan program for public-service employees called the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program erases student debt for public servants after they make ten years of payments. That opens the door to as many as 500,000 Americans including Violet Hopkins, an academic advisor at the University of Montana who had about $80,000 i...
Carbon Credit Providing New Opportunities For Farmers & Ranchers
Farmers can get paid for sequestering carbon through carbon cropping. Regional Sales Manager for the Agoro Carbon Alliance Jerry Stephens said recently on Voices of Montana that the potential for Montana producers has not yet even been tapped.