CMS did not publish an overall star rating for this hospital; hospitals that report too few quality measures are not rated.
Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Big Sandy Medical Center
Big Sandy, MT 59520
County: Chouteau Directions Apple Maps Call (406) 378-2188
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Nearby hospitals
- 32mi Northern Montana Hospital Havre, MT · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 9 min Call Northern Montana Hospital Directions to Northern Montana Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Northern Montana Hospital
- 36mi Missouri River Medical Center Fort Benton, MT · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 46 min Call Missouri River Medical Center Directions to Missouri River Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Missouri River Medical Center
- 46mi Logan Health - Chester Chester, MT · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 14 min Call Logan Health - Chester Directions to Logan Health - Chester (Google Maps) Details for Logan Health - Chester
Quick answers about Big Sandy Medical Center
How long is the ER wait at Big Sandy Medical Center?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 1 hr 17 min in the Big Sandy Medical Center emergency room (the average across Montana hospitals is 2 hr). 0% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, call (406) 378-2188. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Big Sandy Medical Center?
The main phone number for Big Sandy Medical Center is (406) 378-2188, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (406) 378-2188What is the address of Big Sandy Medical Center?
Big Sandy Medical Center is at 166 Montana Ave E, Big Sandy, MT 59520.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Big Sandy Medical Center have an emergency room?
Yes. Big Sandy Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Big Sandy Medical Center spend a median of 1 hour 17 minutes there. That is 43 minutes shorter than the average across Montana hospitals (2 hours).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Big Sandy Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Montana · Other Critical Access hospitals in Montana · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What insurance does Big Sandy Medical Center accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 271311). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in Montana that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network | Network | Network tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana | 40 of 76 plans | BLUE-PREFERRED-PPO | Blue-Preferred-Ppo |
| Mountain Health CO-OP | 13 of 25 plans | – | Preferred |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Montana
Plans that include this hospital: Blue Preferred Bronze PPO℠ - Standard HSA, Blue Preferred Bronze PPO℠ - Support HSA, Blue Preferred Gold PPO℠ - Balance, Blue Preferred Gold PPO℠ - Secure, Blue Preferred Gold PPO℠ - Standard, Blue Preferred Silver PPO℠ - Balance Compare plans
Adults in Montana qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Montana Medicaid plans it takes.
What insurance does Big Sandy Medical Center accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Big Sandy Medical Center is in network for 2 Marketplace insurers in Montana: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (40 of 76 plans) and Mountain Health CO-OP (13 of 25 plans). This covers Marketplace (ACA) plans only, not Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or employer plans. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Big Sandy Medical Center take Medicare?
Big Sandy Medical Center is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 271311), according to CMS hospital data. Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this page does not cover; check with your plan before you get care.
Does Big Sandy Medical Center accept Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana?
Big Sandy Medical Center is in network for 40 of 76 plans that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana sells on the Montana Marketplace in 2027, according to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Big Sandy Medical Center accept Mountain Health CO-OP?
Big Sandy Medical Center is in network for 13 of 25 plans that Mountain Health CO-OP sells on the Montana Marketplace in 2027, according to Mountain Health CO-OP's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Mountain Health CO-OP plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Big Sandy Medical Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 234 patients. | 77 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 35 patients. | 140 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 308 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 58 patients. | 66% | 78% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 47 patients. | 34% | 90%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Jun 2025
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Montana hospital finances.
Who owns Big Sandy Medical Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Big Sandy Medical Center Inc, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1966.
10 doctors and other clinicians list Big Sandy Medical Center as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Jun 2023 · Big Sandy Medical Center Inc (EIN 81-0291695)
As filed with the IRS by Big Sandy Medical Center Inc. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Big Sandy Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Chouteau is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 13.
Mental health: Chouteau is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 21.
Dental: Chouteau is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 14.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Montana earn a median $85,280 a year. Healthcare salaries in Montana.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Montana shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Montana
Registered nurses across Montana (all employers) earned a median of $85,280 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in MontanaNurse Practitioner salary in MontanaRespiratory Therapist salary in MontanaHealthcare salaries in Montana
Cite this data
Writing about Big Sandy Medical Center? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.