Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
The Downeast Public Health District of Maine, encompassing Hancock and Washington counties, is faced with a detrimental gap in available treatment services for people struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly Opioid Use Disorders (OUDs), at a time when SUDs (and OUDs in particular) are dramatically increasing and negatively impacting residents’ health and well-being, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The District is 100% rural, economically challenged, and spans the longest, least populous coastline in Maine—impeding access to health care and isolating individuals with SUDs. Over the last three years, regional health care providers, behavioral health providers, people in recovery, social workers, law enforcement, nonprofit agency staff, faith-based organizations, and government officials, have collaborated to increase access to high quality treatment services across the region, including medication assisted treatment (MAT) services. We have recently launched a “Hub and Spokes” model of care for MAT services, including opening a new treatment center, the Downeast Treatment Center “Hub,” to provide intensive induction and stabilization services, and engaging approximately 30 additional primary care providers in the region who have committed to serving as “Spokes” to provide MAT services after the initial stabilization at the Hub. We have also launched recovery coaching and conducted planning efforts with Emergency Department and Jails to increase access to treatment service for their populations. Building on the infrastructure, planning and development work that we have achieved, this project will enable us to profoundly expand and enhance our direct MAT services to at least 630 unduplicated individuals who are uninsured and underinsured throughout the region. Major activities will include providing intensive induction and stabilization services for at least 150 uninsured/underinsured individuals at the Hub; providing increased access and enhanced MAT services to at least 450 individuals through the Spokes; implementing Emergency Department Rapid Access Pilot Programs to serve at least 240 individuals; implementing a Jail Reentry Pilot Program to serve at least 120 inmates; increasing enrollment in health insurance for all individuals entering the Hub; developing and implementing a plan to mitigate the risk of diversion; continuing to expand and enhance the capacity of Spokes to provide MAT services; developing and coordinate a Downeast Maine MAT Project ECHO; and offering best practice tobacco cessation programming and recovery services for individuals to improve their recovery journey.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
