Under the contract, which was approved by the Teton County Hospital District, Benefis has agreed to provide inpatient and outpatient critical access hospital services in Choteau for at least seven years, and to provide “other essential services,” such as emergency room services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, laboratory, X-ray, clinic, and long-term care, for at least 15 years, according to the report. The report notes that the provision to provide these services is based on various conditions, including that federal Medicare funding for the critical access hospital does not drop significantly and that the use of essential services does not drop 33 percent or more.
According to the report, current Teton Medical Center employees will have the opportunity to be hired by Benefis.
The deal is expected to formally close toward the end of April.
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