Frequently Asked Questions
A. We are regularly updating our website with information about what is going on at Montana State Hospital.
A. A person must undergo a mental health evaluation by either a certified mental health professional, a medical doctor, or a psychiatric nurse practitioner to determine if he or she is an imminent threat to him or herself or others, or is unable to meet his or her basic needs due to a psychiatric illness.
If the evaluator determines mental health care is necessary and appropriate mental health treatment is not available in the community, the evaluator would request the county attorney in the community where the person lives to file a petition with the court to involuntarily commit the person to Montana State Hospital.
A. Court-ordered detention (COD) is part of the involuntary civil commitment proceedings to have a person committed to the Montana State Hospital. Court-ordered evaluation (COE) is used to determine whether a person suspected of committing a felony has the mental ability to proceed through the legal system.
A. Yes, a person has the right to waive his or her right to the second court appearance/commitment hearing and agree to be committed to the Montana State Hospital. Legally this is called “stipulating" to the commitment, which means to bypass the hearing.
A. Yes. When a lower level of care is indicated for a patient under court-ordered detention, but the person still requires in-patient treatment, a person may be placed on a community commitment or in a 14-day diversion program at a local crisis facility rather than be committed to Montana State Hospital.
A. After a court has ordered a person be committed to Montana State Hospital, the patient must be medically cleared before being transported to the hospital. MSH bases this requirement upon two primary factors:
- The limited medical capability and services available at the MSH.
- The need for the patient to be medically stable to the degree he or she can engage in the necessary mental health treatment required for stabilization.
NOTE: Montana State Hospital is currently operating under CDC guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The MSH infection control protocol requires medical confirmation of the respective patient’s medical condition related to the COVID-19 virus. Typically, the sending authority provides COVID-19 test results (obtained within 24 hours prior to admission) to the MSH admissions coordinator.
A. The person could contact a local mental health crisis facility or go to the local hospital emergency department. If the person is not willing to seek treatment, a family member could contact law enforcement. If law enforcement determines a mental health evaluation is needed, they can take the person to the local hospital emergency department for an evaluation. Additional mental health information can be found on the DPHHS Crisis Services webpage.
A. The person would need a mental health evaluation by a medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or certified mental health professional. If the evaluator determines the person is an imminent risk to him or herself or others, or determines the person is unable to care for him or herself due to psychiatric illness, the evaluator would the contact the county attorney where the person lives to request from the court a petition for commitment to the Montana State Hospital.
A. Patients are admitted to the Montana State Hospital by three means:
- Involuntary civil commitment from a court
- Criminal commitment from a court
A. Submit a completed Consent for Release of Confidential Information form by U.S. Mail, email, or FAX. The first 20 pages are free, with additional pages $0.10 per page, plus postage. We can either mail the records or provide them electronically via ePass Montana, a free, online file transfer service, which will save postage charges. Information about setting up an ePass account can be found at epass.MT.gov.
- U.S. Mail:
Health Information
Montana State Hospital
PO Box 300
Warm Springs, MT 59756
- Email: MSH@mt.gov
- FAX: 406-693-7160
A. Submit a completed Request for Release of Deceased Individual's Archived Records form and the required documentation by U.S. Mail or email.
- U.S. Mail:
Health Information
Montana State Hospital
PO Box 300
Warm Springs, MT 59756
- Email: MSH@mt.gov
A. Submit a written request with details asking for correction or amendment of the records by U.S. Mail or email.
- U.S. Mail:
Health Information Management
Montana State Hospital
PO Box 300
Warm Springs MT 59756
- Email: MSH@mt.gov
A. A community agency can request client information by submitting a Consent for Release of Confidential Information form signed by the client along with the request letter and HIPAA release. Send the documentation via U.S. Mail, email, or FAX.
- U.S. Mail:
Health Information Management
Montana State Hospital
PO Box 300
Warm Springs MT 59756
- Email: MSH@mt.gov
- FAX: 406-693-7160
A. You may send checks or money orders made out to "Patient Accounts for [Patient Name]" to:
Montana State Hospital
Attn: Patient Accounts
PO Box 300
Warm Springs, MT 59756
DO NOT SEND CASH.
A. Use the U.S. Post Office Box for both the main hospital and the forensic unit:
Montana State Hospital
PO Box 300
Warm Springs, MT 59756