Montana coronavirus report

The latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic in Montana, including updated case count maps and original in-depth reporting.

by MTFP Staff

Latest health Reporting

Lingering concerns

Wildfires’ toxic air leaves damage long after the smoke clears

While it’s long been known that smoke can be dangerous when in the thick of it — triggering asthma attacks, cardiac arrests, hospitalizations and more — new research confirmed what public health experts feared: Wildfire haze can have consequences long after it’s gone.

by Katheryn Houghton

Telemedicine and Montana’s digital divide

How one national nonprofit is equipping seniors for the future of health care.

Since launching in March, Telehealth Access for Seniors has raised $85,000 and donated 1,900 devices — some brand-new — to seniors and low-income people in 26 states. Alongside cofounder Aakshi Agarwal, Hannah’s classmate at Yale, Arjun and Hannah have coordinated the efforts of 315 volunteers, mostly students.

by Amanda Eggert

GOP ad misrepresents Bullock’s health care stance

Kaiser Health News rates the ad’s claims false.

An attack ad, which was released in mid-July, states that Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democratic candidate for the Senate, supports a government-run health care program that would wreak havoc on the state’s health care infrastructure. Kaiser Health News rates the claims false.

by Victoria Knight

MORE HEALTH COVERAGE

Months into pandemic, concern persists for homeless people

The COVID-19 pandemic, for many shelters and residents, has proven to be a distinct challenge compared to other disasters, such as fires or floods. Part of the difficulty comes from a tangled web of bureaucratic procedures and relief funds at the federal, state and local levels. But nearly five months into the crisis, some providers also describe feeling forgotten or misunderstood by policy makers, to the detriment of the populations they serve.

by Mara Silvers

Hard to help

McCully and other Montana public health officials said the number of people who are not cooperating with contact tracers is small, but that they waste valuable resources when they mislead nurses and pose a risk to others when they ignore health officials’ requests for information. Lack of cooperation is also taking a toll on public health nurses who are working long hours in the midst of a pandemic.

by Justin Franz

How the world’s oldest nation cares for its elderly

Montana, the oldest state in the western United States, faces many of the same problems as Japan, the world’s oldest country. Might there be solutions for Montana from what looks to be a successful experiment enacted two decades ago to help pay for elder care in Japan?

by David Erickson

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MORE HEALTH REPORTING

Mask use on the rise

A new survey reports strong compliance with public health recommendations in Montana.

The peak that wasn’t

How Montana avoided the worst of COVID-19, and how that success could be undone.

Disputed Medicaid audit gets a hearing

The audit, which concludes that sloppy Medicaid administration could result in an $84 million liability for the state, got a frosty reception from health department officials, governor’s aides and their Democratic allies.

Outside the boxes

Health care professionals anticipate a pandemic-induced mental health crisis. Some doctors think prescriptions for time in nature can help.

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