Tester Delivers $24 Million for Affordable Health Care

Senator Secures Major Funding for Montana’s Community Health Centers

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $24 million to strengthen affordable, quality health care across Big Sky Country.

Grants were awarded to 10 local community health centers after Tester negotiated a bipartisan deal to fund these critical medical providers after some in Congress let funding for these facilities lapse.

“Community health centers provide top-notch, affordable health care to folks across Big Sky Country,” Tester said. “From flu shots to cancer screenings, these facilities keep families healthy without emptying their wallets.”

Earlier this year, Montana’s community health centers came close to running out of money and many were forced to consider layoffs or closure when their funding expired.

Tester was relentless in his fight for Montana families, standing with community health center leaders on the Capitol steps, saying “enough is enough” on the Senate floor, and voting against bad budget bills to defend Montana’s community health centers.

Tester was recognized as a national champion for community health centers after pushing through Washington, D.C. gridlock and delivering certainty for Montana’s community health centers in a budget deal.

“Senator Tester has been a champion for Community Health Centers in Montana,” said Jennifer Malone, CEO for the Southwest Community Health Center in Butte. “He was instrumental in getting funding reauthorization that allow us to continue to deliver comprehensive health services in Southwest Montana.”

The full list of grants:

• PureView Health Center, Helena ($1.69 million) – Lewis & Clark County
• Butte Community Health Center ($1.67 million) – Silver Bow County
• Community Health Partners, Livingston ($2.79 million) – Park County 
• Partnership Health Center, Missoula ($3.9 million) – Missoula County
• RiverStone Health, Billings ($3.3 million) – Yellowstone County
• Montana Migrant Council, Billings ($1.8 million) – Yellowstone County
• Northwest Community Health Center, Libby ($1.6 million) – Lincoln County
• Glacier Community Health Center, Cut Bank ($1.6 million) – Glacier County
• Bullhook Community Health Center, Havre ($1.6 million) – Hill County
• Bighorn Valley Health Center, Hardin ($3.7 million) – Big Horn County