Downing Secures $2.3 Million for Shodair Children’s Hospital

Like many healthcare organizations, Shodair Children’s Hospital, is still dealing with the lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted bed availability and staffing. During that time, Shodair leadership made a strong commitment to retaining employees, even taking temporary pay cuts to avoid layoffs.

Five years later, Shodair received a $2.3 million check from the Internal Revenue Service through Employee Retention Credits (ERC) thanks to the support of Congressman Troy Downing’s office.

“This outcome is a shining example of the impact constituent services can make in our communities,” said Congressman Downing. “Shodair’s mission to provide comprehensive pediatric mental healthcare services is setting the next generation of Montanans up for success, and I’m thrilled that we were able to claw back these funds from the IRS so that they can be redeployed where they’re needed most–Big Sky Country, not Washington. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Shodair Children's Hospital for bringing this issue to my attention and to my team for putting in the hard work that made this result possible.”

“We couldn’t be more thankful for the assistance of Congressman Downing’s office,” CEO Craig Aasved said. “His commitment to Shodair’ s mission means a great deal to our team, and more so families in need of our services across the state.”

Aasved said these dollars will allow Shodair to better serve our patients and their families.

“This is an uncertain time in healthcare, and the industry faces tremendous challenges without clear, tangible solutions on the horizon. We are forced to be creative and pivot, which we continue to do. These dollars directly benefit patients and their families, and the least we could do is hold a proper thank you.”

Congressman Downing visited Shodair, spent time talking with staff, took a tour of the new hospital and even did a group activity with some of the hospital’s youngest patients.

Background:

• The ERC was created to support organizations whose services and operations were negatively impacted by COVID-19.
• Shodair applied for the credit in late 2023. It pertains to the first quarter of 2021 during the height of the pandemic.
• Processing times vary from just two weeks to more than two years depending on IRS approval.
• It took Downing's office about 50 days to secure the funds after they had been pending for almost two years.

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