HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Department of Administration officials told lawmakers that Montana’s experiment with state employee health clinics has saved an estimated $6.8 million for office visits and lab fees since 2013.
The agency made the response Tuesday after legislative auditors earlier reported the clinics didn’t provide adequate data to calculate any savings.
State health plan administrator Marilyn Bartlett said the data was available through another computer system and when treatment codes were compared, the savings could be determined.
The state has spent $26 million on employee clinics, which are run by a contractor.
Administration Director Dave Lewis told the Legislative Audit Committee that the state employee clinic in Miles City was closed due to a lack of use. The state has employee clinics in Helena, Billings, Butte, Missoula and a part-time clinic in Anaconda. Patients are not charged co-payments or deductibles.
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