Welcome back to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) newsletter. Before we share recent updates and upcoming activities, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Michelle McNamee, and I am honored to serve as the RHTP program director.
I join the program from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, where I managed the $400 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water and Sewer Infrastructure Grant Program, administering more than 350 grants statewide. I bring a strong background in government program management, federal grant oversight and compliance, and large-scale grant administration. I am committed to applying this experience to advance RHTP’s mission. My focus is on navigating the complexities of state and federal funding to create clear, practical pathways that deliver meaningful impacts for communities across Montana.
With the strength of our current team and the continued growth of our program, we are well-positioned to drive meaningful and lasting change in rural health.
Since our last newsletter, we have made significant progress. We hosted representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in northwest Montana, continued work towards issuing procurements and grants, and onboarded the majority of RHTP staff. These efforts, along with additional initiatives highlighted in this newsletter, reflect our continued momentum.
We look forward to our upcoming Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting in Bozeman on August 6 (details below) and to completing the final phase of team staffing in the coming months.
Thank you for your continued partnership in transforming rural health in Montana.
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IN THIS ISSUE
- First CMS site visit
- Tribal liaisons join team
- RHTP in the community
- DLI update
- Upcoming
- Presentations
- Stay informed
CMS CONDUCTS FIRST STATE VISIT
Representatives from CMS made their first annual visit to Montana May 19–20, 2026 to learn more about the challenges facing rural health care and the state’s plan under RHTP to address them.
CMS representatives and DPHHS staff visited health care partners in Flathead, Lake, and Lincoln Counties, and discussed program plans and updates at Flathead Valley Community College.
DPHHS staff provided an overview of Montana’s RHTP on the first day, reviewing all initiatives and identifying challenges and opportunities. Following the briefing, the team visited the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Pablo and St. Luke’s Community Hospital in Ronan.
On day two, the group visited Northwest Community Health Center in Libby and Logan Health in Kalispell, followed by a focused discussion of state initiatives and use of funds.
Required site visits ensure state plans meet federal requirements and strategic goals; enable refinement of plans, if needed; allow for coordination of technical assistance; provide a forum to review how states use allocated funds; and address performance metrics. The next site visit will take place in 2027.
DPHHS extends its thanks and appreciation to all those who graciously opened their facilities to us, gave us their time, and shared their experiences and expertise. The valuable insights shared with us will help guide our execution of the program.
 Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Pablo, Mont.
 Logan Health, Kalispell, Mont.
 Northwest Community Health Center, Libby, Mont.
TRIBAL LIAISON OFFICERS JOIN RHTP TEAM
Establishing a thoughtful staffing plan that ensures meaningful tribal partnerships is essential to the success of Montana’s RHTP. Montana recognizes that tribal nations and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) comprise 6.5% of the state's population and operate sovereign health systems. To that end, Montana’s RHTP proposal established two tribal liaison positions to serve as a dedicated bridge between Montana’s tribal nations, UIOs, and the RHTP.
In early June, the RHTP welcomed George "Jay" Ball and Barbara Bessette to their roles as RHTP tribal liaison officers.
Barbara Bessette is an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe and is passionate about helping to create healthier tribal communities through culturally-based practices. Throughout her career in prevention, she has promoted health and wellness through culturally grounded, effective prevention strategies for Indigenous populations across the state. Barbara has worked to build meaningful relationships, engage communities, and advocate for Native youth and tribal well-being. Outside her professional life, Barbara is a barrel racer and an avid runner. She shares her home with her partner and their small herd of animals.
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George "Jay" Ball is an enrolled member of the Fort Belknap band of Assiniboine. Jay previously served as an Assiniboine Representative on the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council and additionally served as the Chairman of the Fort Belknap Health Committee. Jay brings direct governance experience in tribal health systems as well as a deep understanding of tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships.
Outside of work, Jay has a strong passion for horses, which are deeply rooted in his culture and way of life. Jay also enjoys hunting and fishing. Most of all, Jay loves spending time with his five children.
In their new roles, Barbara and Jay will work with RHTP leadership to support meaningful tribal participation as the program is implemented. Their work will include coordinating with tribal health systems to expand access to workforce development, technology modernization, and care delivery transformation resources while upholding tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships.
RHTP IN THE COMMUNITY
Program Managers Present at Montana Health Network’s Fifth Annual Montana Frontier Health Care Conference
RHTP Program Managers Allison Scheeler (Initiative 1) and Sara Schlemmer (Initiative 4), joined health care leaders from frontier communities across the state at the Care Conference June 10-11 in Billings, where they provided an overview of the RHTP program and implementation updates. The conference provided valuable information, education, and networking opportunities for participants to discuss the unique challenges that Montana’s frontier communities face.
 Fifth Annual Frontier Healthcare Conference, June 10-11, Billings.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY - RHTP STAKEHOLDER UPDATE
The Montana Department of Labor & Industry held its first Initiative 1 Stakeholder Webinar on May 13, 2026, bringing together partners from across Montana to discuss the opportunities this funding will create for rural communities. Participants contributed thoughtful insights and demonstrated strong enthusiasm for the program’s goals.
This kickoff session marked the start of an ongoing, collaborative process that will guide the development of Workforce Initiative 1. The perspectives shared during the webinar will play a central role in shaping strategies to strengthen and sustain Montana’s rural health care workforce.
UPCOMING
Quarterly Statewide Workforce Meeting
We invite all stakeholders to stay engaged as we continue building on the momentum from our kickoff event. Please mark your calendars for the next RHTP Quarterly Meeting hosted by Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI):
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Date: July 16, 2026
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Time: 9:00 a.m. (MDT)
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Location: Zoom
https://mt-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G1YNrG-GSRqWsCNyyUggZg
Your participation is vital as we work together to advance meaningful transformation in rural health care across Montana.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
The summer 2026 Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Please register at the link below by July 24 to attend in Bozeman or virtually:
Montana Rural Health Transformation Program Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting – Register Here
PRESENTATIONS
RHTP MATERIALS
STAY INFORMED
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