As state psychiatric hospital struggles, health department turns to private consultants

Montana has awarded a contract to a private consulting firm to oversee operations of seven public health facilities, a move that follows a substantial reorganization of the state health department and a compounding crisis that drove federal health authorities to cut off funding for the state’s adult psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs this month.

Department of Public Health and Human Services spokesperson Jon Ebelt said Monday the department finalized its contract with New York-based Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services LLC last week...