Gianforte approves funds to address state hospital waitlist, reopen group homes

Montana counties and local health providers will soon be able to apply for state funding to decrease the backlog of criminal defendants waiting to be evaluated at the Montana State Hospital and increase bed capacity at community group homes hit hard by past budget cuts and pandemic-era employee turnover. Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office announced on Tuesday the approval of the two initiatives proposed by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, a group of lawmakers and governor appointees created during the 2023 Legislature to overhaul much of the state’s beleaguered sys