Recognizing Excellence of 12 Montana Community Health Centers, Tester Announces Nearly $900,000 in Awards

Quality Improvement Awards are given to some of the highest performing health centers nationwide

(Big Sandy, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $864,497 in Department of Health and Human Services grants for 12 of Montana’s community health centers in recognition of their excellence and hard work in increasing health care quality and access for Montanans across the state.

These Montana health centers are being awarded funding by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for having made significant quality improvements last year as well as for being some of the highest performing centers nationwide.

“Community health centers are the backbone of the health care system for thousands of Montanans,” said Tester. “These grants are another well-deserved recognition of the critical work these medical centers do to provide quality health care for folks in Big Sky Country.”

The allocation of the Quality Improvement Awards is as follows:

• Bighorn Valley Health Center: $40,000
• Bullhook Community Health Center: $70,164
• Butte-Silver Bow Primary Health Care Clinic: $62,054
• Community Health Partners: $65,193
• Lewis and Clark County: $73,609
• Flathead City-County Health Department: $45,704
• Glacier Community Health Center: $34,958
• Lincoln County Community Health Center/Northwest Community Health Center: $45,606
• Marias Healthcare Services: $109,202
• Missoula City-County Health Department/Partnership Health Center: $118,842
• Montana Migrant Council: $86,528
• Yellowstone City and County Health Department/RiverStone Health Clinic: $68,839

Each year, the HRSA allocates Quality Improvement Awards to community health centers across the country to recognize and improve the overall quality, efficiency, and value of the services they provide. When being considered for these grants, the centers are evaluated on everything from reducing health disparities to enhancing access to advancing health information technology services. Once awarded, the funds are used to help community health centers expand their achievements in clinical quality improvement, delivering efficient care, and increasing the overall value of health care in their communities.

Tester has been a steadfast supporter of community health centers and improving Montanans’ access to health care. Last year he fought to renew long-term funding for these critical health centers, and in March, he was recognized for the second year in a row as a national champion for community health centers and an advocate for Montana’s patients and medical professionals by the National Association of Community Health Centers. Earlier this year, Tester cosponsored the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act to mandate annual increases in community health center funding for the next five years. He was the only member of Montana’s delegation to vote to fund community health centers.