Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

Montana State Flex Program

What is one Core Competency your state Flex Program is working on developing through Flex activities?

Core Competency: Developing Leadership and Workforce

The Montana Flex Program is unique in structure compared to other state Flex Programs. Montana Flex was originally formed as a public-private partnership between the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services and the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation (MHREF) of the Montana Hospital Association. This ongoing collaboration allows the utilization of the expertise of both entities and other state partners to optimize funding to the greatest extent possible.

Many of Montana's data-driven activities are rooted in building skills in quality improvement, networking, and support that strengthen the current quality leaders and hopefully impact the retention of newer quality staff by knowing they have a network of support in their role. Montana Flex has a strong quality program, that program area being the largest part of the work plan activities. Included in those activities are networking opportunities at statewide meetings and conferences, regional meetings, quality staff monthly meet-ups, and the Quality Improvement Roots Program for quality leaders that teach quality improvement methodologies in a learning-by-doing format.  This program is perfect for new QI staff and serves as a support for seasoned QI staff to lead their front-line teams. Montana Flex utilizes subject matter experts to provide expertise in specific areas of need for critical access hospitals (CAH) and rural health clinics.  CEO involvement is also highlighted in the work plan with one to two meetings per year scheduled to provide education to folks in leadership roles. Board education is offered at the annual Montana Health Care Conference. Lean internships are also offered to a few CAHs each year for the completion of rapid improvement projects. Although not an intentional objective, this successful and popular activity has resulted in interns being hired by CAHs. Utilizing the expertise of the Montana Office of Rural Health, Community Health Needs Assessment implementation plan assistance is provided to several CAHs each year providing them support to address their community health needs.

What is one activity your state is funding through SHIP?

The Montana Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) is facilitated through the Montana Office of Rural Health at Montana State University.  The SHIP program works closely with the Montana Health Research & Education Foundation at the Montana Hospital Association to ensure coordination with the Flex program.  Montana’s small rural and frontier Critical Access Hospitals have consistently utilized SHIP funding to support projects within the three SHIP-required focus areas.  A significant portion of the funding has been dedicated to the value-based purchasing category including the areas of quality reporting, MBQIP data collection process/related training, and efficiency or QI training.  Montana’s rural and frontier hospitals often work with a small Montana-based company to conduct HCAHPS surveying.  There is a distinct price advantage in using a local company as well as a recognition of the rural and frontier nature of our small Critical Access Hospitals.  The ACO category is also chosen frequently with expenditures primarily in population health training, telehealth or mobile health, and efficiency/QI training or projects.  Montana’s SHIP-participating CAHs have always had a strong preference to utilize SHIP funding on their own discrete projects.  They have not generally been favorable to joining group projects or pooling funds for a specific project area. However, funding has been utilized appropriately and hospitals have expressed appreciation for the SHIP program.