Saturday, June 7, 2025
6/7/2025
MATConnect - Through Horizon Health Services' (HHS') MATConnect program, we will expand and enhance access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment and Recovery Support Services (RSS) for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are living in Niagara and Genesee Counties, NY, where - according to the New York State Department of Health - opioid burden is among the highest in the state. We will prioritize engagement of individuals living in rural areas in the two counties, as well as those with a history of criminal justice system involvement. Our focus population includes people living with OUD from diverse backgrounds. We anticipate that 81% of our MATConnect patients will be white, 7% black, and the remainder either biracial or of other races. We anticipate 4% of patients will be Hispanic. We have initiated outreach to the Tonawanda Indian Reservation of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and are carefully assessing how we can work together to support their OUD needs in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way. As such, we expect a small percentage of our patients will be from this community. Through our MATConnect program, HHS will hire three prescribers who will provide MOUD, including buprenorphine, suboxone, and vivitrol. We will offer same-day induction assessments, MOUD prescriptions, and instructions for a home induction, as well as serve as a resource for ongoing MOUD treatment. Our prescribers will work collaboratively with each patient, along with HHS' counseling staff and state-certified peer specialist to integrate MOUD with comprehensive psychosocial services, counseling, behavioral therapies, RSS, and other clinically appropriate services that are provided in alignment with each patient's needs and recovery goals. Overall, our program will offer MOUD and individualized RSS to 950 individuals living with OUD in our two-county region, including 100 in Year 1, 175 in Year 2, 200 in Year 3, 225 in Year 4, and 250 in Year 5. Our goals and measurable objectives include: (1) Increase access to MOUD and RSS for individuals in Niagara and Genesee Counties via the following objectives: 1.1: Engage 950 individuals in our program over the five year grant period; 1.2: 80% of individuals will receive MOUD services within five business days after referral; 1.3: 80% of individuals served will meet with the Peer Specialist within 48 business hours of MATConnect engagement; and 1.4: 75% of patients who engage in MOUD will also be engaged in HHS' individual, group, and/or family counseling services within two weeks of enrollment. (2) Decrease illicit opioid use and prescription opioid misuse among individuals we serve through the provision of evidence-based, FDA-approved MOUD via the following: 2.1: 80% of individuals served will improve their quality of life and recovery capital after 3 months of engagement; and 2.2: 75% of people served will reduce their misuse of opioids after six months. (3) Reduce accidental overdose events from illicit opioid use and prescription opioid misuse among patients through the following objectives: 3.1: 100% of patients served will be offered training in overdose response, along with naloxone and fentanyl test strips, within 2 weeks of engagement; 3.2: When an accidental overdose occurs, HHS will engage our Incident Response policy 100% of the time; and 3.3: 65% of patients who indicate in their baseline GPRA interview that they experienced an overdose in the past 30 days will not report experiencing an overdose in the last 30 days at their 6-month or discharge GPRA interview, whichever comes first. Data collection and measurement procedures will be delineated in a comprehensive CQI Plan, including the use of standardized instruments per an established timeline.
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).