Hello, Flathead Valley. It seems like things are never slowing down in the health care world, as I turn to you with another update on the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. In case you missed my newsletter last week, the program is a provision of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year to distribute $50 billion to states over the next five years, intended to improve access to rural health care. Montana received the fourth largest grant of all 50 states, with $233 million to hand out to rural health care initiatives in 2026.
Last Thursday, Montana’s state health department Director Charlie Brereton announced $4 million of that money is now available for rural emergency medical services (EMS) grants.
“Modern, well-equipped ambulances are the backbone of effective emergency care in Montana,” Brereton said in a prepared statement. “This grant is a critical investment in our local EMS agencies, so even our most rural and frontier communities can count on fast, high-quality, life-saving care when every second counts.”
The first-year grants are available for EMS agencies serving rural areas of the state to upgrade ambulances and other emergency equipment.
Eligibility is dependent upon need, which state health officials will assess considering the age, model, or operational status of current equipment. Officials will also consider any gaps in patient care, as well as the level and type of service provided by an agency.
According to the federal Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, most Montana counties qualify for rural health grants. Agencies can put their specific location into the analyzer to determine their eligibility.
Agencies have until Aug. 15 to submit funding proposals by applying through the Montana grants application portal, Submittable, and selecting the “DPHHS EMS Equipment Grant Application.” The state health department’s vendor information page has additional resources for using Submittable and can be found here.
The Submittable portal can be accessed here. Stay tuned as state health officials prepare to announce more grant opportunities with the $233 million in federal money the state has to spend this year on rural health projects.
I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s get into the rest of the Roundup.
Whitefish City Council Hears Funding Pitch for Second Fire Station North of Viaduct
Iron Horse Golf Club and HOA representatives and city staff laid out a proposal to fund a second fire station north of the Baker Avenue viaduct. Still in its early stages, the plan would involve a land donation, capital campaign and emergency services bond levy.
Biologists Investigate New Reports of Brown Trout in Flathead Fisheries
The confirmed detection of the nonnative fish in Ashley Lake, and an angler's reported catch in Church Slough, have renewed warnings against illegal introductions
Montana Set to Receive $233 Million Through Federal Rural Healthcare Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded the Treasure State the fourth largest grant out of all 50 states that applied for the Rural Health Transformation Program
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