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  • Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Recommended & Available for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals

    Jon Ebelt, MT DPHHS Public Information Officer|Aug 25, 2021

    Montana health care providers can now offer third doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals following new recently announced federal recommendations. “This is great news because we know the impact COVID-19 has with high-risk groups,” DPHHS Director Adam Meier said. “The updated recommendations will ensure those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 can get as much protection as possible.” Meier said while authorized vaccines have proven to be more than 90% effective in protecting against...

  • DPHHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Expand Behavioral Health Treatment Services

    Jon Ebelt, DPHHS Public Information Officer|Jul 14, 2021

    Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Adam Meier announced the agency is seeking public comment on its federal application to expand mental health and substance use treatment services through the Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Initiative. Governor Greg Gianforte recently signed the HEART Initiative into law through HB 701 that was sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins of Missoula. Now, DPHHS must begin the federally-required process of submitting a Medicaid Section 1115 waiver application...

  • State Officials Report Alarming Trend of Fentanyl-Related Fatalities in Montana

    Jon Ebelt, MT DPHHS Public Information Officer|Jun 30, 2021

    State officials said today the alarming increase of fentanyl-related fatalities in Montana that occurred in 2020 does not appear to be slowing down thus far into 2021. The Montana Department of Justice’s State Crime Lab reported 41 fentanyl-related deaths in 2020, up from 19 in 2019. Through May 2021, there’s already been 22 total confirmed fentanyl-related fatalities, including 11 statewide in April alone. “This latest trend is extremely concerning and adds to the already existing deadly and costly impact illegal drugs have in Montana commu...

  • DPHHS Confirms First Hantavirus Case for 2021

    Jon Ebelt, DPHHS Public Information Officer|Apr 14, 2021

    The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has confirmed that an adult male from Richland County has been diagnosed with hantavirus infection. The individual acquired the illness while working out of state where there was an occupational exposure to mice. The individual was hospitalized but is now in the process of recovering at home. DPHHS and local public health agencies remind Montanans and visitors to the state to be aware of the risk of hantavirus and to take precautions to avoid exposures to rodents, their droppings and...

  • State Health Agency Continues to Work with CDC on Surveillance for Variant Strains

    Jon Ebelt, DPHHS Public Information Officer|Mar 24, 2021

    Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials announced today the state now has 19 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus variant strains. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified DPHHS late yesterday (March 16) and today (March 17) of 11 additional variant cases that match two California variant strains and a New York variant strain. These cases involve specimens of Montana residents that were submitted for testing dating back from January to early March 2021. These 11 cases are from Beaverhead,...

  • State Health Agency Continues to Work with CDC on Surveillance for Variant Strains

    Jon Ebelt, DPHHS Public Information Officer|Mar 24, 2021

    Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials announced March 17th the state now has 19 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus variant strains. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified DPHHS of 11 additional variant cases that match two California variant strains and a New York variant strain. These cases involve specimens of Montana residents that were submitted for testing dating back from January to early March 2021. These 11 cases are from Beaverhead, Cascade, Glacier, Hill, Jefferson, Madison,...

  • Southwest Montana Veterans Home Welcomes First Resident

    Jon Ebelt, DPHHS Public Information Officer|Mar 10, 2021

    Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials announced the brand new Southwest Montana Veterans Home (SWMVH) welcomed its first resident into the facility today, March 8. The very first Veteran to move into the facility, William "Bill" Davis, was welcomed by Governor Greg Gianforte, SWMVH Foundation members, facility staff, community members and others. The event also included a tour of the facility. Davis, age 80, is Veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1976. "This...