"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Critical Access Hospital, Rural Health Clinic

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Roundup Memorial Healthcare is a not-for-profit 25 bed critical access hospital organization which provides general medical, emergency services and rural health clinic.

Services Include:

• Emergency Services
• Intermediate Swing
• Lab Services
• Outpatient Services
• Palliative Care
• Pediatrics
• Physical Therapy
• Primary Care
• Radiology
• Short Term Care
• Transitional Care

MMC provides inpatient, outpatient, long term care, diagnostics and emergency services in a contemporary environment.

Specialty clinics are held on a regular basis and include diabetes self management, endoscopy, prolotherapy, family planning and mental health.

Women’s health services are available through the Bair Medical Clinic.

For WIC call:
First Wednesday 9am to 3pm
406-266-5209

Full time Medical Staff includes one Medical Doctor, one Physician's Assistant, one Family Nurse Practitioner.

Services offered include:

• Critical Access Hospital
• Rural Health Clinic
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Family Healthcare
• Chiropractic
• Non-Surgical Pain Management
• Geriatric Healthcare
• Women's Healthcare

Roman Hendrickson, MD
Molly Biehl, DO
Kathy Tetrault, PA-C
Chris Hartsfield, NP
Dayna Leavens, CPNP
Kathy Meyer, DC
Paula Christensen, NP
Judy Weitzel, PMHNP
Scott Rigdon, CRNA

•Routine/Urgent/Emergent Care
•Cardiac Rehab
•Cryotherapy
•FAA, DOT & School Physicals
•Insurance Physicals
•Minor outpatient surgery
•No-Scalpel Vasectomies
•Rural Health Clinic Visiting Nurse
•Satellite Clinic in Wibaux, MT
•Wellness Exams
•Well Child Exam & Immunization

Since 1996, the Pioneer Medical Center Clinic has been providing primary care to the residents and visitors of Sweet Grass County. Our medical staff treats acute illnesses, manages chronic diseases, and provides women health, preventative care and well child services. The clinic also offers adult and child immunizations among other services. The staff at Pioneer Medical Clinic is committed to providing prompt, courteous service and personalized care.

Rural Health Clinic

Provider based to Liberty Medical Center

Pondera Medical Center Clinic is a Family Practice Rural Health Clinic dedicated to provide and coordinate comprehensive services to the entire family. Our Physicians are Board Certified Family Practitioners, with experience in Obstetrics. Boarded Family Practice Physicians must complete an additional three years of specialized training above and beyond that of medical school. Family Practitioners are trained in all avenues of medicine, so they can provide a full range of care. PMCC Physician Assistants are licensed by the State of Montana and specialize in Family Medicine and Urgent Care. Our Providers promote healthy lifestyles and continually strengthen the relationship between the clinic and community, with excellent, timely, and compassionate patient care.

• Family Medicine
• Rural Health Clinic
• Diagnostic Imaging- radiology services 
• Emergency medicine
• Swing bed program 
• Therapies

Michael D'Ambrose, MD
Randy N. Webb, MD

MonDak Family Clinic is an outreach service of Sidney Health Center. It is conveniently located downtown in Fairview to serve the residents of the area.

Services include:
Minor Trauma
Adult Care
Pediatric Care
Geriatrics
Acute and Chronic Illnesses

The pharmacy is conveniently located in the building to fill prescriptions and over-the-counter medications as needed.

Wendy Wiltzen, FNP

As a rural health clinic, we are devoted to giving quality health care close to home from pediatrics to geriatrics.

The Clinic offers a full range of primary medical care services as well as internal medicine, pediatric care and obstetrical care. We are fully staffed with four Family Practice Physicians, one Specialist in Internal Medicine, two Family Nurse Practitioners, as well as an ample amount of nursing and administrative staff.

Rural Health Clinic

Rural Health Clinic