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...
Montana Begins Distribution Of Rapid COVID-19 Tests
Rapid tests for COVID-19 have begun to arrive across Montana and Tuesday the federal government activated the website covidtests.gov where free at-home COVID-19 tests can be ordered. University of Washington Medicine Pathologist Dr. Geoff Baird says rapid antigen tests are a good go-to if you are feeling sick which maybe be COVID-19 symptoms. ...
Montana Health Officials Encouraging Residents To Get Flu Shot
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reports there have been more than 1,400 confirmed cases of influenza this season. A 2018 study showed between 2012 and 2015 adults with a flu vaccine were 82% less likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit for flu-related reasons. MTN News reports in light of the presence of the ...
Billings Clinic Facing New Shortage Of Nurses
According to Kaiser Health News Billings Clinic is hiring two dozen nurses from other countries to offset a nursing shortage that has been made worse by the pandemic. Billings Clinic is just one of scores of hospitals taking this strategy. Demand is so high and the nursing shortage is so great there’s a backlog of thousands of international he...
Montana Lawmakers Approve Additional Child Care Funding
Thursday Montana’s American Rescue Plan Act Health Commission voted to advance $30 million in stabilization funding to child care providers impacted by the pandemic. Director of Public Health and Human Services Adam Meier explained during the commission meeting that these funds come from previously determined funds that were not yet approved. ...
Governor Gianforte Provides Update On Omicron Variant In Montana
During a press conference to mark his first year as Governor Greg Gianforte commented on the recent rise in COVID-19 infections in Montana brought on by the omicron variant. He pointed to previous studies and public health officials on what is known currently about the new variant. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1-...
Great Falls Middle School To Go To Remote Learning This Week
Today, East Middle School in Great Falls is switching to mobile learning rather than in-person attendance. Northern News Network’s Eric Young reports this decision is not due to COVID-19 infections, though. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1-04_737.mp3
District Judge Shoots Down Vaccination Mandate For Head Start Programs
President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the 20 Head Start early education programs in Montana serving preschool age children to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or for that matter anywhere else in the United States. Louisiana U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty has ruled the administration unlawfully bypassed Congress handing a victory to 2...
Over 100,000 Antigen Tests Delivered Across Montana
Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 have emerged as a public health tool that can help keep schools and businesses open. The state has delivered as many as 113,000 antigen tests to hospitals health clinics government offices local health departments and others. The tests are much more accessible for those who are part of Montana’s state-run free ...