Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT. Low Country Health Care System (LCHCS) was deemed as a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in 1998 and now provides comprehensive FQHC primary care services for residents of the rural, southwestern region of South Carolina (SC), including Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Hampton counties, along the border of Georgia. In addition to the Section 330 FQHC program, LCHCS operates a Ryan White Part C Early Intervention Services program serving people with HIV in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties, SC. In 2024, LCHCS served 19,270 total patients through its FQHC program with 67,071 medical visits, 3,546 mental health visits, 598 substance use disorder (SUD) visits, and 510 vision service visits. Of total patients, 73.7% were living with incomes at or below 200% FPG, and 55.6% were living at or below 100% FPG. Furthermore, 17.2% of all patients had no insurance, 32.5% were receiving Medicaid, and 19.7% were receiving Medicare (Uniform Data System [UDS], 2024). The proposed RCORP-Overdose Response project will support improved health care in rural Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties, SC by addressing immediate and short-term needs related to the provision of SUD services, and will reduce and prevent the risk of overdoses. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. Behavioral health disorders, including SUD, opioid use disorders (OUD), and mental illnesses including depression and anxiety are a significant and growing concern throughout the service area. The drug-overdose mortality rate nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020, from 8.1 per 100,000 to 15.4 per 100,000 (age-adjusted; WONDER, CDC, 2016-2020). In 2022, there were 65 drug-related deaths and 338 drug-related overdoses, the highest number on record (Just Plain Killers, SC DAODAS, 2025). The mental and behavioral disorder mortality rate of 40.5 per 100,000 in the service area exceeds the national rate of 34.5 per 100,000 (age-adjusted; WONDER, CDC, 2016-2020). Allendale, Bamberg, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties are designated health professional shortage areas for mental health, as is the low-income population of Barnwell County. All five counties are also designated medically underserved areas (Find Shortage Areas, HRSA, 2025). PROPOSED SERVICES. LCHCS will build on the center’s existing SUD program by implementing the following RCORP-funded activities. Tier 1: Prevention - Tertiary Prevention: LCHCS will purchase and provide naloxone to LCHCS patients/families at risk for overdose. Tier 1: Treatment - SUD/OUD Care Delivery Sites: LCHCS will conduct minor A/R at Barnwell Family Medicine (Barnwell County) to expand physical SUD/OUD care delivery space. Tier 1: Treatment - Screening and Connection to Treatment: LCHCS will hire 1.0 FTE Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to ensure that all clients who screen positive for SUD/OUD and related infectious diseases are connected with treatment, including MOUD. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner position will be supported by 1.0 FTE Peer Recovery Support Specialist who will promote linkage to care at LCHCS and transition between care settings, as needed. Tier 1: Recovery - Peer Recovery Specialists: LCHCS will hire and train 1.0 FTE Peer Recovery Support Specialist and will implement a peer recovery support program focused on SUD. Tier 2: Capacity Building - Clinical Training and Support: LCHCS will provide Continuing Medical Education Units (CME) for the MOUD Director and the proposed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to enhance providers’ ability to care for individuals with SUD/OUD. POPULATION TO BE SERVED. RCORP-Overdose Response activities will target Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties, SC. The target rural population includes individuals in the service area who are at risk for, experiencing symptoms of, in treatment for, or in recovery for SUD, as well as their families/caregivers and other impacted community members.
