A concerning trend in nursing care in Montana may offer a glimpse of what's to come in Wyoming. Seven nursing homes have closed in Montana, which represents about 10% of its nursing home beds. "There are a few others in Montana that have voiced their concerns about their long-term financial sustainability," said Nicole Hobbs, vice president of regional operations for Billings Clinic, at the Powell Valley Healthcare Board of Directors meeting in July. Eric Boley, president of the Wyoming Hospital Association and Leading Age Wyoming, which represents about two-thirds of nursing homes in Wyoming, said the problems that are impacting nursing homes in Montana are challenges Wyoming facilities are also facing, including staffing shortages and Medicaid reimbursement rates that don’t cover the full cost of care.
