Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc. (CFHC) is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties of eastern North Carolina. CFHC offers primary medical care, integrated behavioral health (IBH), pharmacy, dental, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. A broad range of services are conveniently combined to remove barriers to care and are available to patients regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. CFHC provides services to everyone; however, as an FQHC, CFHC delivers care to vulnerable populations in underserved and rural communities. In 2023, CFHC served 21,167 patients. Approximately 80% were of a minority race, 37% spoke a language other than English, and 43% were uninsured. In the three-county service area, rates of emergency room visits for mental health conditions and drug overdose deaths are higher than the state average. The ratio of mental health providers in the service area ranges from 460 to 1,420 per 1 resident. In 2023, CFHC served 1,634 unduplicated patients with mental health services, 526 unduplicated patients with substance use disorder services, and 249 with medications for opioid use disorder. With the proposed work plan, CFHC can address a larger portion of the mental health crisis. Onsite behavioral health services are provided by licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) in the form of short-term intervention and follow-up, allowing primary care providers and patients the opportunity to meet multiple needs in one setting. The need for long-term therapy for patients with mental health conditions and SUD continues to grow significantly. CFHC intends to build on its current foundation by adding LCSWs for long-term therapy. CFHC operates a successful SUD treatment program utilizing evidence-based medication therapies for alcohol and opioid use disorders. This treatment is combined with primary care and therapy in a whole-person care model. A program manager will be added to the IBH department to oversee continued expansion of this program. Prescriber availability will be increased to accommodate more patients. LCSWs are already heavily utilized in the treatment of patients on medications for alcohol and opioid use disorders, but the opportunities for patients with SUDs that have no approved medication treatment (e.g. stimulant use disorders) are limited. CFHC will increase the availability and number of therapeutic treatment modalities by increasing the number of LCSWs employed and providing training on best practices for this patient population. CFHC recognizes that standard treatment modalities are crucial in addressing behavioral needs, but also recognizes that patients need education regarding their health conditions, and safe spaces to interact with peers who have similar struggles. Social isolation is a major factor in the incidence and management of behavioral health conditions, particularly in rural areas with limited resources. A new service line for recreational therapy will be added, along with a full-time recreational therapist to provide individual care and lead education classes, support groups, life skills training, self-management courses, and resource workshops on mental health and SUD-related topics. Evaluating and addressing social determinants of health is a priority at CFHC. Case management services exist for medical, mental health, and SUD patients with Medicaid. CFHC will add a case manager who can serve any behavioral health patient, regardless of the payer, and provide linkage to internal and external resources, as well as care coordination in an increasingly complex health care system. A transportation driver will also be added to expand free transportation and increase access to in-person care. CFHC proposes to increase the number of unduplicated patients receiving mental health services in 2025 by 300 and the number of patients receiving SUD services, including treatment with MOUD in 2024 by 200.
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).