MONTANA HEALTH NETWORK

What MONTANA HEALTH NETWORK does

Montana Health Network (MHN) is a private, member-owned healthcare facility organization headquartered in Miles City, Montana, established in 1987 by a coalition of rural healthcare CEOs to deliver shared services that individual facilities could not efficiently provide on their own. The company serves approximately 65+ medical facilities statewide, primarily Critical Access Hospitals and rural/semi-rural healthcare organizations across Montana and the Intermountain region, with additional reach to individual healthcare professionals, childcare workers, and nursing students. MHN is governed by its member facilities, which hold ownership stakes and have input into product oversight and operations.

MHN's product portfolio spans four interlocking service lines: (1) Medical Staffing (established 1990) providing temporary/per diem and long-term contract placement of nurses, nurse practitioners, radiology techs, CNAs, lab techs, and other medical staff; (2) Insurance and Benefits, anchored by Montana's largest self-insured Workers' Compensation Trust (since 1990) and a multiple employer self-funded health plan operated with PacificSource (since 1993), plus professional liability, D&O, cyber, auto, fringe benefits, and a pooled 401(k) administered with Empower; (3) Education Services delivered through an American Heart Association Training Center, including online CNA training via Canvas LMS, BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications, Mental Health First Aid, Rural Nurse Residency, TNCC, ENPC, and behavioral health courses; and (4) Business Consulting covering credentialing (via Big Sky Credentialing), peer review, provider recruiting, strategic planning, and non-emergency medical transportation.

Revenue is generated through a mix of staffing placement fees, insurance trust contributions and premium equivalents, course registration fees (ranging from $75 for AHA certifications to $1,500 for behavioral health programs), and consulting/managed-services contracts. The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, relying on direct consultation with healthcare facilities, member referral networks, and the annual Montana Frontier Healthcare Conference co-hosted with HIMSS Montana Chapter. Strategic partnerships with PacificSource, Empower, Big Sky Credentialing, HIMSS Montana Chapter, and the federally funded NE MT AHEC anchor the operating model. Leadership includes CEO Chris Hopkins, Director of Education Christine Williams, and Health Equity/Outreach Coordinator Jessica Klamm.

Name

MONTANA HEALTH NETWORK

Legal name

Montana Health Network

Website

https://montanahealthnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Healthcare Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Allied Health & Rehab Referral Platforms (PT/OT/SLP) (HLALALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Rural healthcare services
• Medical staffing solutions
• Healthcare education programs
• Group insurance administration
• Healthcare business consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Miles City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Staffing Services: MHN provides temporary staffing for healthcare facilities including traveling nurses, nurse practitioners, radiology techs, CNAs, lab techs, and other medical staff. Revenue generated through staffing fees for both per diem and long-term contract placements.
2. Healthcare Education Courses: MHN offers certification courses, clinical education, CNA training, and behavioral health courses. Revenue generated through course registration fees ranging from $75 per course for basic certifications to $625 for complete CNA programs.
3. Insurance Products: MHN offers self-funded and group insurance products including General/Professional Liability, Workers' Compensation, Health Coverage, Directors & Officers Liability, Cyber Insurance, and Hired/Non-Owned Auto coverage. Operates largest self-insured Workers' Compensation Trust in Montana since 1990.
4. Business Consulting Services: Provides consulting, credentialing/insurance paneling, peer review services, and provider recruiting/locum work. Includes transportation services for non-emergency medical transport throughout rural Montana.
5. Fringe Benefits Administration: Fringe Benefit Resources offers employee benefits administration including dental, vision, life, disability, accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital gap, wellness, EAP, prepaid legal, and identity theft protection. Also provides HR support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Montana Health Network is a member-owned healthcare facility organization that delivers medical staffing, clinical and certification education, self-funded group insurance products, and business consulting services to rural and frontier healthcare facilities across Montana and surrounding states. Members use its services for temporary and permanent clinical staffing, AHA-certified training, Workers' Compensation and liability coverage, credentialing, peer review, non-emergency medical transport, and care coordination.

Product overview

Montana Health Network is a Montana healthcare facility-owned organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include: (1) Medical Staffing Agency providing temporary and permanent placement for nurses, CNAs, medical providers, and healthcare professionals; (2) Education Services offering online and on-site clinical education through their AHA Training Center including CNA training, BLS/ACLS/PALS certification, Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Nursing, Rural Nurse Residency, and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel programs; (3) Insurance Services providing self-funded group insurance including health coverage, workers' compensation, professional liability, and 401(k) administration through partnerships with PacificSource and Empower; (4) Business Consulting including credentialing, peer review, transportation services, and strategic planning; (5) Care Coordination for health plan members. These products share infrastructure including CareLearning for CNA modules, PacificSource for health insurance administration, and Big Sky Credentialing for provider credentialing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NE MT AHEC: North Eastern Montana Area Health Education Center - serves fifteen counties in the eastern region of Montana, focusing on recruiting, training and retaining health professions workforce for rural and underserved populations.

Products and services

• Medical Staffing Agency Temporary and permanent placement of nurses, nurse practitioners, radiology techs, CNAs, lab techs, and other healthcare professionals for member and prospective healthcare facilities across Montana. Offers flexible scheduling, travel reimbursements, and a comprehensive benefits package.
• Insurance Services Comprehensive insurance products for healthcare facilities and members, including General/Professional Liability, Workers' Compensation (Montana's largest self-insured trust), Directors & Officers Liability, Cyber Insurance, Hired/Non-Owned Auto, and Employee Health Coverage. Includes fringe benefits administration (dental, vision, life, disability, accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital gap, wellness, EAP, prepaid legal, identity theft protection) and HR support.
• Business Consulting Services Healthcare facility consulting including nursing, operations, strategic planning, and governance, plus transportation services, credentialing, peer review, and provider recruiting/locum work.
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Professional non-emergency medical transport services for members and rural Montana residents, including trips to/from care facilities, doctor offices, hospital discharges, and rehab centers. Online request form available.
• Online CNA Training Program Montana-approved online Certified Nursing Assistant training program delivered via Canvas, with a 4-week self-paced didactic portion (weekly lessons, skills videos, quizzes, discussion boards) plus 16 hours of supervised skills practice and 16 hours of clinical experience at approved healthcare facilities. Total program cost $625 ($475 didactic + $150 Headmaster state testing fee).
• AHA Training Center Certification Courses American Heart Association certification courses including 2025 Guidelines BLS, Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, ACLS, and PALS, plus related instructor courses, delivered on-site and online for healthcare professionals and the community. Standardized at $75 per course.
• CALS - Comprehensive Advanced Life Support Educational program designed for rural healthcare teams covering emergency medical training including trauma, cardiac, strokes, pediatric, OB, neonatal, airway compromise, and sepsis care. Tiered pricing by license type. More than 96% of participants report enhanced skills, confidence, and teamwork abilities.
• ENPC - Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course Course providing core-level pediatric knowledge and skills for emergency nurses to properly assess and implement evidence-based interventions for high-risk pediatric patients. 18.25 CNE hours; 6th edition provider manual required.
• TNCC - Trauma Nursing Core Course One-and-a-half-day intensive trauma nursing course providing 18.3 contact hours of CNE, with optional Student Workbook and Study Guide.
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 8-hour training course teaching participants how to help someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis, based on a 5-step action plan.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) 6-hour training providing adults who work with youth the skills to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in children and adolescents.
• Fundamentals of Behavioral Health 55-hour, 6-week instructor-guided curriculum with six online learning units designed to train paraprofessionals in behavioral health for rural/underserved communities. $1,500 per participant.
• Rural Nurse Residency Program 12-month residency program for new graduate nurses providing mentorship, clinical experiences, and interactive case studies to overcome reality shock and retain employment in rural healthcare settings. Delivered via EMTN and face-to-face meetings.
• UAP - Unlicensed Assistive Personnel Program Program allowing nursing students to work at rural hospitals as UAPs before graduation, with loan forgiveness available to those who return to work at MHN member hospitals after completing nursing school.
• Care Coordination Health insurance plan service where care coordinators (including Rebecca Stensvad, RN, and Charlee Allison, RN) review members' health records, fill care gaps, monitor wellness, assist with referrals and billing, and support care transitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest self-insured Workers' Compensation Trust in Montana with proven track record for controlling costs and returning employees to work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PacificSourcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993PacificSource operates the multiple employer self-funded health plan administered by MHN since 1993. Partnership extends nationwide coverage with a variety of affordable plans. Also provides Flexible Spending Accounts with automatic claims transfer from claims department to flex department.
• EmpowercoreTechnology or IntegrationEmpower provides pooled employer plan (PEP) for 401(k) administration through MHN. The model makes 401(k) plan affordable for facilities and employees by combining assets of all participants when negotiating fees and moving maintenance, reporting, and fiduciary responsibility away from local HR departments.
• Big Sky CredentialingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBig Sky Credentialing is a Credentials Verification Organization (CVO) that works with MHN to meet provider credentialing and payer enrollment needs. Offers services including full provider credentialing and payer enrollment for Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers.
• HIMSS Montana ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Montana Frontier Healthcare Conference. HIMSS Montana Chapter partners with MHN to discuss how communities are better working together for Critical Access Hospitals in frontier communities.
• North Eastern Montana Area Health Education Center (NE MT AHEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNE MT AHEC is a Health Resources and Services Administration grant-funded program hosted by Montana Health Network. Serves 15 counties in eastern Montana and works with 65+ medical facilities statewide to recruit, train, and retain health professions workforce for rural and underserved populations.
• Arch Pro CodingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Arch Pro Coding for COVID-19 training webinars. Arch Pro Coding delivers pertinent, correct, and up-to-date information on documentation, coding, and billing related to COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Best Practice MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBest Practice Medicine presents the Naloxone Master Trainer course hosted at Montana Health Network. Completion authorizes individuals to conduct Naloxone Training for those eligible for liability protections under Montana's 2017 Help Save Lives from Overdose Act.
• Montana Office of Rural HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana Office of Rural Health received funding from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase paraprofessionals trained in behavioral health in rural/underserved communities. Partners with MHN for Youth Mental Health First Aid and Community Health Worker training programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Mountain-Pacific Quality Health: Quality Improvement Organization serving Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, and several other states with rural healthcare quality improvement, education, and population health programs. Closely comparable to MHN's role as a rural healthcare enabler in overlapping geography.
• Stratis Health: Minnesota-based nonprofit that supports rural and critical access hospitals with quality improvement, education, and consulting — directly comparable to MHN's role as a rural healthcare network supporting CAHs with shared services and education in an adjacent state.

Emerging players

• Aya Healthcare: Digital-first healthcare staffing platform with mobile matching, credentialing, and travel nurse placement. Comparable to MHN's staffing agency in core service but competes through technology and speed — a primary disruptive threat to MHN's rural staffing model.
• Vivian Health: Healthcare job marketplace and staffing platform connecting clinicians to facilities with transparent pay and instant matching. Comparable to MHN's staffing function but via digital marketplace, representing a structural shift in how clinicians find rural assignments.
• Relias: Healthcare-focused online education and workforce training platform serving hospitals, health systems, and community-based providers. Comparable to MHN's online CNA training (Canvas), Mental Health First Aid, and continuing education catalog but at digital-platform scale.

Broad incumbents

• HealthStream: Public company providing healthcare workforce education, training, and credentialing to hospitals and health systems. Comparable to MHN's AHA Training Center, CNA program, and continuing education portfolio but at enterprise scale across thousands of facilities.
• Cross Country Healthcare: National healthcare staffing and workforce solutions provider across nursing, allied health, and locum tenens. Comparable to MHN's staffing agency in service mix and broad incumbent alternative for rural hospital clients evaluating their staffing partner.
• AMN Healthcare: Largest US healthcare staffing company offering travel nursing, locum tenens, and allied health placement. Directly comparable to MHN's Medical Staffing Agency but at national scale, representing the incumbent MHN competes against for rural facility contracts.

Direct peers

• LocumTenens.com: Specialty-focused locum tenens staffing agency with significant rural and critical access hospital placement volume. Directly comparable to MHN's provider recruiting and locum work within business consulting, particularly for hard-to-fill rural positions.
• 3RNET: National rural recruitment network connecting healthcare professionals to jobs in rural and underserved areas across the US. Directly comparable to MHN's NE MT AHEC workforce recruitment mission and member facility staffing model, serving the same rural healthcare employer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/montanahealthnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-health-network-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MONTANA HEALTH NETWORK