Health Center Program - HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM: H80CS00866 SERVICE AREA ID NUMBER, CITY, AND STATE: ID #131; Roanoke Rapids, NC PATIENTS PROJECTED TO BE SERVED IN 2026: From 01/01/2026-12/31/2026, RHG projects serving 32,438 total unduplicated patients. This represents 95% of the 34,145 patient target as noted in the SAAT, which requires no reduction in federal funds per SAC guidance. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: Rural Health Group, Inc. (RHG) was founded in 1974 to address the need for access to affordable, high-quality health care for residents in northeastern North Carolina. The service area now includes Halifax, Northampton, Edgecombe, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties, NC. The center is requesting Community Health Center (CHC) grant funds in this SAC application and has received Patient Centered Medical Home certification at 17 sites. As an existing FQHC with an established presence in the region, RHG is well-positioned to continue providing access to comprehensive primary and preventive health services for the low-income residents of its service area. In 2023, RHG served 34,145 patients with 110,633 medical visits, 11,071 dental visits, 4,386 mental health visits, 233 substance use disorder visits, and 1,426 enabling service visits (UDS, 2023). NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED: Data from the service area reveal systemic, widespread health disparities and emphasize the need for comprehensive primary and preventive health services that are accessible to those with low incomes and the uninsured. Within the service area, 42.1% of individuals live with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The population to provider ratio in the service area demonstrates a severe shortage of primary care, dental, and mental health providers, presenting a significant barrier to care, particularly for low-income residents. All six service area counties have Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designations (Find Shortage Areas, HRSA, 2024). In RHG’s service area, 12.7% of residents under age 65 are uninsured, higher than the state rate of 12.5% and the US rate of 10.2%. This includes 16.2% of people under 65 who are also living with incomes of 200% FPG or lower (Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, Census Bureau, 2021). PROPOSED SERVICES: RHG operates 19 service delivery sites across the service area, including one school-based health center site, one full-service site on campus at a local college, one women’s health site, and one dental-only site, and also operates two admin-only sites. Services provided either directly or by referral include primary care, diagnostic labs and x-ray, screenings, emergency and after-hours coverage, voluntary family planning, immunizations, well child care, gynecology, prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, preventive dental, pharmaceutical services, case management, eligibility assistance, health education, outreach, transportation, translation, additional dental, mental health services, substance use disorder services, nutrition, and psychiatry. Proposed staffing to support project implementation include 20.25 FTE physicians (incl. 2.0 FTE OB/GYNs), 12.15 FTE nurse practitioners, 10.6 FTE physician assistants, 1.0 FTE midwives, 38.0 FTE nurses, 55.1 FTE other medical staff, 5.0 FTE dentists, 6.0 FTE hygienists, 11.0 FTE other dental staff, 5.45 FTE LCSWs, 2.0 FTE other mental health staff, 1.6 FTE SUD providers, 10.0 FTE pharmacy staff, 14.5 FTE case managers, 1.0 FTE education specialists, 3.0 FTE outreach staff, 1.0 FTE eligibility staff, 2.0 FTE interpreters, 12.0 FTE CHWs, 7.0 FTE QI staff, and 1.0 FTE other programs/services staff. By 12/31/2026, RHG projects to serve at least 32,438 patients. POPULATION GROUPS TO BE SERVED: RHG prioritizes serving low-income individuals in the service area, including Medicaid recipients and the underinsured/uninsured.
