Baucus announces money for Bullhook Clinic hirings

Just days before a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new clinic for Havre’s community health center, Montana’s senior U.S. Senator announced funding for a new position at that health center.

Sen. Max Baucus said the position will help people get insurance to use at the center — and other hospitals and clinics — by helping them use the new insurance exchanges being set up by the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

Havre's Bullhook Community Health Center will receive a $73,476 share of the $1.5 million coming to Montana.

“These grants will create jobs for hard-working Montanans right away and help more Montana families get the health coverage they need,” Baucus said in a press release Wednesday. “The Affordable Care Act is already helping thousands of seniors and families across Montana, and we need to get information out there about all the additional benefits that are coming. Having dedicated folks at community health centers to help their neighbors understand and sign up for the exchanges will go a long way toward getting families covered — and when more folks have insurance, health care costs are lower for everyone.”

Baucus, a Democrat, said the funding nationwide through the health care reform act is $150 million going to 1,200 community health centers to train 3,000 new outreach workers who will assist 4 million individuals with enrolling in the insurance exchange.

The release also touted his work in including other funding for community health centers in the Affordable Care Act, including $9.5 billion to expand community health center services nationwide over five years and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects.

That $1.5 billion was the source of the $4,957,921 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will help pay for erecting the new clinic across 4th Street from the Havre Police Department, Fire Department and City Hall.

The guests at Friday’s groundbreaking, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., include Montana’s other U.S. senator, Democrat Jon Tester.