Montana’s Critical Access Hospitals Form Clinically Integrated Network

Montana is joining the states seeing the launch of a clinically integrated network (CIN) of critical access hospitals supported by Cibolo Health. 

The Yellowstone High Value Network (YHVN) is launching with 24 critical-access hospitals in Montana working together on clinical and business initiatives.

In April the Ohio High Value Network (OHVN)  was formed by 25 rural hospitals in Ohio and one in West Virginia. It was the third rural hospital network organized and operated by Cibolo Health. The first, the Rough Rider High-Value Network in North Dakota, launched in 2023, and the second, Headwaters High-Value Network in Minnesota, started in 2024.

The YHVN cares for a population of more than 753,000 patients. Yellowstone members also will collaborate to share operational best practices and lower the cost of purchasing equipment and services.

“The hospitals coming together to form the Yellowstone network want to gain the advantages of scale for further enhancing quality care and lowering costs while remaining independent,” said Steve Todd, CEO of St. Luke Community Healthcare, in Ronan, Mont., and chair of the Yellowstone board, in a statement. “Sustaining independent hospitals in our communities allows us to tailor decisions about healthcare to the needs of our patients and providers.”
The Yellowstone network is in discussions with other rural hospitals in Montana interested in joining as members and expects to grow.

A Clinical Integration Committee, featuring a clinician from each member hospital, will develop a set of quality measures and lead the implementation of a data-sharing platform. These initiatives will drive efforts to work with insurers on value-based care, including by supporting physicians and other providers in care delivery.

In a statement, Gregory Hanson, M.D., president and CEO of Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Mont., said medical providers will gain access to more data for making treatment decisions and more opportunities to share clinical best practices through the Yellowstone network.

“Working together through Yellowstone, we can provide rural medical providers with more meaningful data and best practices from rural settings similar to the one they are practicing in,” Hanson added. “The network also will support the conversations providers have with patients about preventive care by making it easier for patients to schedule and complete that care.”