Health CareWednesday, November 4
Benefis will restructure Great Falls services starting Dec. 19
The Good Day Great Falls team
If you or someone you love uses Benefis, the changes start Dec. 19 and continue into the new year. The health system told employees Tuesday it's restructuring some Great Falls services. Northwest Clinic services will consolidate to East Campus, inpatient rehab on West Campus will be discontinued, and outpatient counseling, psychiatry and psychology will shift to partners.
Three Benefis service areas are changing
| Service | What changes |
|---|---|
| Northwest Clinic | Consolidated to East Campus |
| Inpatient rehab | Services discontinued |
| Outpatient mental health | Discontinued; partners step in |
Sources: The Electric, KRTV, Montana Free Press
Benefis says the goal is to keep the system from slipping from break-even into losses. Its update said 75% of patients are covered by government programs. Montana Free Press reported that the American Hospital Association says Medicare covers only 82 cents of every dollar hospitals spend on those patients. Benefis didn't say whether any jobs are affected.
Three in four Benefis patients are covered by government programs
75%of Benefis patients are covered by government programs
Sources: The Electric, KRTV, Montana Free Press
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| of Benefis patients are covered by government programs | 75% |
- Rehab unit: 20 beds on West Campus
- Rehab needs: swing bed and transitional care services
- Partners: Many Rivers Whole Health and Shodair Children's Hospital
- 72-hour mental health holds: won't change, a Benefis VP said
Sources: The Electric, KRTV, Montana Free Press