Website Main Menu

February 1, 2008
Contact: Kelly Williams, Senior & Long Term Care Division, DPHHS, 406-444-4147
Jon Ebelt, Public Information Officer, DPHHS, 406-444-0936

Public Invited to Comment on Aging, Long-term Care Issues

Montanans interested in issues surrounding aging and long-term care are invited to participate in a statewide public listening session on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008.

The listening session, sponsored by the Senior and Long Term Care Division (SLTC) of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon via teleconference in 10 communities simultaneously. Local discussions will follow in each community.

“As we prepare for the 2009 legislative session, we want to hear from consumers, providers, and other interested parties about possible new legislation, budget priorities, unmet service needs, and any other issues they believe we need to address in our legislative initiatives,” said Kelly Williams, administrator of the SLTC.

Among the programs that may be addressed are:

  • Aging services;
  • The state-operated veterans’ homes in Columbia Falls and Glendive;
  • The Medicaid nursing facility program;
  • The Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver;
  • Medicaid personal care, home health, and hospice programs; and
  • Adult protective services.

Anyone unable to attend the public forum may submit written comments to addressed to Williams in the Senior and Long Term Care Division, Department of Public Health and Human Services, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604-4210.

Teleconference sites will be located at:

  • Billings:Montana State University-Billings, 214 North Broadway, first floor conference room. A local meeting will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the same location.
  • Bozeman: Montana State University, South Seventh and Grant Streets, Burns Center Room 126. A local meeting will be held at 1 p.m. in the Bozeman Public Library, Small Community Room, 626 East Main Street.
  • Butte: Montana School of Technology, ELC Building, 1300 West Park Street, Room 225.  A local meeting will take place in the same location at 1 p.m.
  • Great Falls: MSU-Great Falls College of Technology, 2100 16th Avenue South, Room B-133. A local meeting will be held at 1 p.m. in classrooms C and D of Benefis East, 1101 26th Street South.
  • Havre: MSU-Northern, Hagener Science Center, 300 11th Street West, Room 202. A local meeting will take place at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center, 2 West Second Street.
  • Helena: Department of Public Health and Human Services Auditorium, 111 North Sanders Street. A local meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Room 13 of the Rocky Mountain Development Center, 200 South Cruse Avenue.
  • Kalispell: Flathead Valley Community College, Learning Resource Center, 777 Grandview Drive, Room 120. A local meeting will take place in the same location at 1 p.m. in Room 123-A.
  • Miles City: Miles Community College, 2715 Dickenson Street. A local meeting will follow at 1:15 p.m. at Holy Rosary Hospital, Conference Room 3, 2500 Wilson.
  • Missoula: University of Montana, Gallagher Building, Arthur and Eddy, Room 104. A local meeting will be at 1 p.m. at the same location in Executive Board Room 382.
  • Glasgow:Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, 621 3rd Street South.  No local meeting is planned.
  • Glendive: There is no teleconference available, but on Friday, Feb. 8 a local meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home, 2000 Montana Avenue.

For more information contact Williams 406-444-4147 or via e-mail kewilliams@mt.gov.

Page last updated: 02/05/2008