Saturday, June 10, 2023
6/10/2023
Montana’s 1.1 million residents reside in one of 56 counties. Each county has at least one, if not all three Health Professional Shortage Area designations. Montana’s residents living in one of these counties, especially our underserved and vulnerable populations, are currently unable to receive the necessary primary care, mental health or dental health care needed for them to live their lives to their greatest potential.. To address this need, the Montana Primary Care Office (MT PCO), within DPHHS, works to increase and maintain access to primary and preventive healthcare services in Montana to improve the health status of undeserved and vulnerable populations. This work is accomplished with partnerships with other “like minded” public and private organizations, such as the Montana Primary Care Association, the Office of Rural Health/Area Health Education Center and the Montana Hospital Association, who also oversee programs to meet the healthcare needs of our state. The Montana State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is administered by the MT PCO. The MT PCO utilizes the SLRP as a tool to enhance and expand the PCOs current recruitment and retention activities of healthcare professionals across the state. The HRSA 22-048 change, allowing for 10% administrative charges, will allow the MT PCO to expend $20,000 of the Federal funds to support the evaluation of Montana’s new approach to addressing the healthcare shortages. More importantly, the HRSA 22-048 change of suspending the required $1 to $1 state match, will allow for the MT SLRP to award up to 24 healthcare providers over the next four years by maximizing the $280,000 total award ($180,000/Federal and $100,000/State). The net result of the HRSA 22-048 changes will allow the MT PCO to implement these new approaches, aimed at increasing the number of Montanans receiving healthcare services: • Expanding to include healthcare providers working at an approved MT PCO approved SLRP site located in a HPSA; • Opening the MT SLRP Healthcare Application window to a year-round application cycle for eligible healthcare providers; and, • Increasing the yearly maximum MT SLRP award amount to be greater than that of the National Health Service Corps.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
