Sixteen of the state's 27 hospitals are classified as critical access ones, meaning they receive more funding from the federal government for their operations caring residents in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a strain on the resources and finances of many. And while not all are struggling like some, those who lead these hospitals say it's become more difficult since the heights of the pandemic.
Rural hospitals in Wyoming are a lifeline for small communities throughout the state. But staying afloat can be challenging. Some say Medicaid expansion could help with financial woes but the Wyoming legislature failed to pass it this year. So rural hospitals are finding ways to survive.
A new bill would allow physician assistant to practice more independently without the supervision of a doctor, but not everyone in Montana believes that's a good thing.
Megan Zawacki started working at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, Montana, in 2020 as a physician assistant trained in treating addiction. She had gone through specialized training that allowed her