Events & Announcements
After months of discussions between Partnership Health Center and the Seeley Lake Hospital District (SSHD) Board regarding the Seeley Lake Clinic’s financial sustainability, the SSHD board voted not to extend the clinic lease. A lease extension at a reduced rate would have provided health care to the Seeley Swan Community through the end of January 2027, ensuring access during the winter holidays and peak cold and flu season. The lease will end on October 31.
“We tried everything we could think of to stay as long as we could, but the board decided against continuing the partnership,” said Lara Salazar, CEO of Partnership Health Center. “Of course, we are disappointed. We care about the Seeley Lake community, and we hope the SSHD finds the health care solution they are looking for.”
For the past four years, Partnership Health Center has absorbed roughly $400,000 of losses annually to operate the Seeley Lake clinic. Partnership Health Center has been discussing ongoing revenue losses with the Seeley Lake Hospital District Board for years, but the conversation became more serious last spring. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, and many people have already lost—and will continue to lose—their health insurance coverage.
“We worked hard to reduce this loss while preserving access to care as much as possible. We tried to cut hours and adapt services, but the deficit persisted,” said Salazar. “As a nonprofit organization, we are financially stable, but ongoing losses create future instability that could compromise patient access and care.”
Partnership Health Center proposed several measures to minimize the loss, including reduced rent, fewer services and hours, and other local financial support. Ultimately, the Hospital District Board decided not to use local funds to support the clinic. As a final effort to keep the clinic open through the end of January, Partnership Health Center requested a rent reduction to $1, which would have reduced the financial loss of operating the clinic and provided time to discuss available options to meet the area’s health care needs.
Rural health care nationwide is struggling. Dozens of clinics across the country are closing, and more than 400 rural hospitals—over 20% of all rural facilities—are at risk of shutting down. In Montana, Intermountain Health recently announced the closure of its Lewistown Clinic and other staff reductions. The asbestos clinic in Libby also recently closed its doors.
“We are incredibly grateful to our team at the Seeley Clinic who have remained committed to patient care during this uncertain time. We look forward to continuing to provide care to our patients in other Partnership Health Center facilities. We are also exploring options to provide some level of health care access to the community.”
More information about a closure schedule will be available in the coming weeks. All Seeley Lake Clinic staff will be offered a position at the Creamery Clinic in Missoula. To schedule an appointment at Partnership Health Center in Missoula, call (406) 610-8181. Staff will help find a convenient appointment time and answer any questions about continuing care with Partnership Health Center.
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Partnership Health Center (PHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Missoula County that provides primary, dental, and behavioral healthcare, as well as pharmacy services. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of income or insurance coverage. Everyone is welcome at PHC, and no one is denied care due to an inability to pay. Each year, PHC cares for 18,000 patients. To learn more, visit partnershiphealthcenter.org.
Starting on July 1, 2026, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will begin implementing work requirements for certain Montana Medicaid members. This new regulation was included in the House Reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), also known as “H.R. 1” or the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” that Congress passed in the summer of 2025.
Since this is the first time work requirements are allowed under federal law, and since Montana is still adjusting the process and requirements, this may be a confusing time for Medicaid-covered patients.
New rules will require anyone in the adult Medicaid Expansion program to work 80 hours a month for at least 3 of the last 6 months. (If you’re applying for Medicaid coverage as an “able-bodied” adult for the first time, you’ll need to document that you worked 80 hours the month before enrolling.) There will be exemptions for caregivers of the elderly, family members with disabilities, or children 13 and under, American Indians (based on IHS eligibility), those deemed medically frail, and pregnant or postpartum women.
There will be paperwork requirements for both individuals who worked the required hours and those who qualify for an exemption.
What to look out for
For the next six months and beyond, anyone covered by Medicaid should pay close attention to any letters they receive from Montana Medicaid or the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Renewal packets might arrive in a plain white envelope that can be easy to overlook or mistake for junk mail. Since many people are unsure which Medicaid program they are enrolled in, it’s very important that you keep an eye out for this mail, as it will be essential for maintaining your coverage. These letters may be long and confusing. Don’t panic.
We are here to help.
Our Social Work team is available to meet with established patients during clinic hours. Patients can call our main line at 406-610-8181 to schedule an appointment or stop by for a walk-in visit. We can help guide you through the documentation process.
We also host a monthly Medicaid support event called Navigation Medicaid Together. It takes place on the third Tuesday of every month from 2-5 pm at our Creamery Building located at 401 Railway Street West. During this event, multiple staff members are available to assist with Medicaid renewals, applications, and other insurance questions, making it easier to get help. Check out our flyer for more information. (Link)
What to know
It’s very important to keep your mailing address up to date, so you receive important notices and renewal packets. People can update their address here: Montana DPHHS Change of Address Form. We can also assist with updating information during a visit or at our monthly Medicaid support event.
No one should lose coverage between July 1 and September 30. While this will be the test period for DPHHS, you still need to complete your paperwork, and we can help you with that. Partnership Health Center is committed to ensuring people have access to the health care they need and the insurance coverage they are eligible for. We are here to help you keep your health insurance and provide the outstanding care we are known for.
On January 1, 2026, Partnership Health Center officially separated from Missoula County to become a fully independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and retained its status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
“This is an exciting time for Partnership Health Center,” said Lara Salazar, Chief Executive Officer at Partnership Health Center. “Over the past 35 years, we’ve grown into a vibrant clinic serving 18,000 patients annually, providing a comprehensive range of health services. This transition will help us be more responsive to the healthcare needs of our patients.”
In May 2025, Missoula County and Partnership Health Center announced a mutual agreement to formally separate. Partnership Health Center was initially established as a pilot project in 1989, with support from physicians, hospitals, and the Missoula City-County Health Department, who recognized a critical need for affordable care for uninsured residents.
It became Partnership Health Center in 1992 after being designated an FQHC. The structure of starting within a county government and transitioning to an independent organization is common among FQHCs across the U.S. This change aligns with national best practices, as many community health centers evolved into fully independent organizations, including in Cascade and Flathead counties.
“We are incredibly grateful to Missoula County for their support for more than three decades, and especially as we’ve transitioned over the past few months,” said Salazar. “This change allows us to tailor decisions to healthcare needs and provide flexibility in hiring specialized healthcare staff.”
As of December 31, staff were no longer county employees, and on January 1, they officially became employees of the independent Partnership Health Center. No one lost their job or was laid off as a result of the transition. Most patients will experience minimal to no changes and may still schedule an appointment or connect with their Care Team by using MyChart or calling (406) 258-4789. Partnership Health Center will continue to provide everyone with access to quality, integrated healthcare, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
“Partnership Health Center plays an essential role in Missoula’s healthcare ecosystem, and as an independent organization, they can better achieve their mission,” said County Commissioner Juanita Vero. “We know there will be continued opportunities to work together to ensure that everyone in Missoula County has affordable access to healthcare.”
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Partnership Health Center (PHC) and Missoula County have announced a mutual agreement to formally separate, allowing PHC to become a fully independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization while retaining its status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Lara Salazar, Chief Executive Officer at PHC, noted that both the County and PHC agree that the FQHC has outgrown the existing structure. “When PHC was small, our connection with the County helped us grow and manage essential functions like HR and finance,” said Salazar. “Now we are a large, vibrant clinic serving 18,000 patients annually. This transition will help us be more nimble and responsive to the healthcare needs of our community. Since we have effectively been operating independently for years, our patients can expect little change to the great care they have always received at our clinics.”
In 1993, Missoula County applied for a federal grant to establish an FQHC, as was required at the time. Soon after, PHC began as a small, volunteer-only organization in the basement of the health department. PHC has grown into a complex organization offering primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services.
“As an independent organization, PHC can more effectively leverage its healthcare-specific expertise to drive its mission,” said County Commissioner Juanita Vero. “We know there will be continued opportunities to work together to ensure that everyone in Missoula County has affordable access to healthcare.”
The structure of starting within a county government and transitioning to an independent organization is common for FQHCs across the U.S., with about 100 remaining that have not made the transition. This change follows similar moves by Flathead and Cascade counties, where county officials and the local Federally Qualified Health Centers announced formal separation. This change will not affect Missoula County taxpayers, as PHC does not use county tax revenue to operate.
PHC Board Chair Kathleen Walters emphasized that patients can expect minimal service changes. “As a patient myself, I see this as a great thing for PHC’s ability to support the health and well-being of our patients and community,” Walters said. “This is a positive change for our organization’s ability to operate nimbly in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, strengthening our position as a trusted healthcare provider in this community.”
PHC and Missoula County will spend the next several months determining the formal details of the separation, with the goal of completing the process by the end of 2025.
Laurie Francis, executive director of Partnership Health Center, has announced she will step down from her position at the end of October. Francis has led Partnership Health Center, a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center and division of Missoula County, since August 2017. PHC’s patient-led Board of Directors has appointed a transition steering committee to conduct a national search for her replacement.
“Laurie’s departure simultaneously brings feelings of sadness and profound gratitude,” said John Crawford, chair of PHC’s Board of Directors. “While we are sad to lose such a fantastic leader, the PHC Board thanks Laurie for her remarkable contributions to the organization, our patients and the communities we serve. She leaves PHC in a state of tremendous strength and we are poised to continue building on her great work as we enter a bright new chapter for this organization.”
Francis has spent the bulk of her career innovating in health care to increase access and improve outcomes for medically underserved populations. Before coming to PHC, she founded and led Community Health Partners, a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Bozeman area.
Under her leadership, Partnership Health Center has received several awards including Employer of Choice Awards from the Missoula Job Service Employers’ Council in 2019 and 2022, and Best Health Care Provider from the Missoulian’s 2021 Best of Missoula competition. Notable changes at PHC during Francis’ tenure as executive director include:
- Implementation of a strategy that elevates the importance of health equity, joy at work and innovation in pursuit of the PHC mission
- Opening of a satellite clinic inside Missoula Food Bank and Community Center in partnership with the City of Missoula and the Missoula Redevelopment Agency
- Expansion of the PHC Innovations Department to address key variables that affect health and wellbeing including housing, racism and poverty
- Creation of the Mobile Support Team, a behavioral health crisis intervention team led by the Missoula Fire Department and formed and operated in partnership with Missoula County and the City of Missoula
- Initiation of the Community Care Team, a mobile health care support team that provides medical, nursing and housing assistance services to people experiencing houselessness in Missoula
- A complete overhaul of the PHC logo and branding with the newly formed Communication Division
- Creation of a Staff Engagement Department to advance organizational culture and the PHC commitment to joy at work
- Maintenance of access to care during COVID and ongoing growth, and, in partnership with Missoula County, the administration of more than 17,000 COVID-19 vaccines in the county
Francis has worked closely with the Missoula County commissioners to enhance health outcomes across the county. She is recognized as a leading voice in health care innovation, the use of data to drive positive outcomes and methods for creating a supportive workplace culture.
“Laurie isn’t afraid to tackle big, complicated challenges, and thousands of Missoula County residents have access to high-quality, affordable and patient-centered healthcare thanks to her thoughtful approach,” County Commissioner Josh Slotnick said. “Simply put, Partnership Health Center is the innovative, forward-thinking healthcare provider it is today because of her leadership.”
Local medical leaders also celebrate Francis’ accomplishments and impact.
“Laurie has been instrumental in Missoula’s ongoing efforts to address and minimize health disparities among poor and vulnerable populations,” Providence Montana Chief Executive Joyce Dombrouski said. “Her work leading a Federally Qualified Patient-Centered Medical Home has been significant in addressing the principles of health, equity and justice to all members of our community. Since 2019, she has volunteered countless hours of leadership and service on our Providence Montana Community Ministry Board, partnering with us to improve quality and patient safety. I’m proud to call Laurie a friend and would like to publicly thank her for her commitment to providing quality health care to everyone.”
The PHC Board of Directors recently appointed a transition steering committee to conduct a national search for Francis’ replacement. PHC board member Jil Dunn has been appointed chair of the committee, which is comprised of PHC board members, PHC leadership staff and the Missoula City-County health officer.
The committee plans to advertise for the position for six weeks and anticipates initial candidate screens will start in June.
Finalists for the position will meet with leaders of key community partner organizations, who will then provide feedback on the candidates to the PHC Board of Directors. PHC staff, patients and members of the general public will also have opportunities to meet finalists. The full PHC Board of Directors will make the final decision at their August or September board meeting.
After 5 years at the helm of PHC, including leading 250 staff and 16,000 patients through the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis says she is grateful for her time at PHC and is excited for the next stage of her career.
“At this point, PHC lives in my DNA and come October I will leave with love, sadness, and a deep sense of gratitude in my soul,” Francis said. “None of our impact has occurred without the engagement of a committed board, an incredible leadership team, 250 outstanding PHC staff members, the dynamic Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana and strong partners. We are an organization full of mission-driven humans who form powerful teams and I am indescribably grateful for all we do. As far as my next steps, I hope to have a few months of rest and quality time with my family before finding the next opportunity for me to continue to contribute to social justice.”
Francis added she is excited to watch PHC continue promoting heath equity and health justice for all under new leadership.
“I’ve been in health care for over 25 years, and this group of people – the board, the staff, the patients, the community partners – is ridiculously smart, compassionate and mission-driven,” Francis said. “This is a special place, and I’m excited to watch them continue to grow and improve in their pursuit of health justice for all.”
News media can contact Eric Halverson at [email protected] or 406-258-4361 for more information.
