Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
Massachusetts Community Health Centers Supporting Opioid Addiction Recovery 2 (MA-SOAR2) - The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (ML) is responding to the MAT PDOA FOA. Over 5 years, this project will serve 535 individuals with opioid use disorders (OUD) who live in urban areas and towns of Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Methuen, Milford, and Worcester, Massachusetts. Participants will receive MAT from any of the 3 different community health centers (CHC). The project will increase number of people who receive MAT and will decrease opioid use and misuse among those receiving services. The diverse target population served by the 3 CHCs will receive care and are often low income and have complex health challenges. According to 2019 Health Resources and Services Administration data, the 3 CHCs serve the following communities: - Community Health Connections: 48.3% racial/ethnic minorities, 37.4% Hispanic/Latinx, 52.9% Non-Hispanic White, 2.6% Asian, 8% Black/African-American, 1.6% more than one race. - Edward M. Kennedy CHC: 72.8% racial/ethnic minority, 38.4% Hispanic/Latinx, 27.3% Non-Hispanic White, 3.3% Asian, 10.9% Black/African-American, 42.2% more than one race, - Greater Lawrence Family Health Center: 92.7% racial/ethnic minority, 88% Hispanic/Latinx, 7.8% Non-Hispanic White, 1.8% Asian, and 25.2% more than one race. Service goals are to increase the number of individuals who receive MAT, reduce Opioid misuse, maintenance of abstinence, and improved life-functioning in at least one domain demonstrated at 6-month Government Performance and Results Modernization Act (GPRA) follow-up. To achieve this, CHCs will support 30 prescribers to receive DATA 2000 Waivers. CHCs will hire Recovery Coaches and Nurse Care Managers to conduct targeted outreach, comprehensive screening, and support MAT prescribing in combination with recovery supports and care management including using telehealth options and referrals to needed services. The second goal is to enhance the ability of the local system of care to efficiently support recovery of individuals with OUD. We will provide education about OUD to CHC patients, families, and community providers as well as coordinate training and foster communication among safety net providers and other partners to create networks of care. To ensure project financial sustainability we will assist CHC providers to obtain waivers and Recovery Coaches to become certified, necessary components of billing Medicaid. In year 1 we will serve 75, 120 per year in years 2-4, and 100 in year 5.
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).