FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Project Title: FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion (BHSE) Applicant Organization Name: Rural Health Services, Inc. Health Center Program Grant Number: H80CS00653 Address: 1000 Clyburn Place, Aiken, SC 29801-4193 Website Address: www.ruralhs.org Program Funds Requested in the Application: This application requests a total of $1,100,000 in BHSE funding, with $600,000 for Year 1 and $500,000 for Year 2. Rural Health Services, Inc. (RHS), a non-profit community health center, has been providing accessible, affordable, high-quality, patient-focused primary health care to residents of Aiken County, SC, since 1978. In 2023, RHS served 15,003 total patients via 56,638 total encounters from 6 service delivery sites, including 1,781 patients with mental health services, 0 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) services, and 168 patients with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (UDS). NEED: The total service area population is 169,865. A third (32.8%, or 55,768 individuals) of RHS service area residents live on incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG), higher than the national rate of 28.8%. Furthermore, 14.2% of area residents live on incomes at or below 100% FPG, also higher than the U.S. rate of 12.5% (ACS, Census Bureau, 2018-2022). Of all service area residents, 12.0% are uninsured, a greater percentage than the national average of 10.2%. Among those with incomes under 200% FPG in the service area, 18.9% are uninsured, also exceeding the US average of 17.1% (SAHIE, Census Bureau, 2021). Aiken County is a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for mental health care and the Aiken Service Area (17 census tracts) is a designated Medically Underserved Area (MUA) (Find Shortage Areas, HRSA, 2024). In the service area, there are an estimated 33,091 individuals aged 12 and older who are in need of SUD treatment, and there are an estimated 32,148 people with mental illness (NSDUH, SAMHSA, 2021-2022). As a primary point of access in its service area for any health care need, RHS is well-positioned to address barriers to care and provide access to a continuum of behavioral health services that includes treatment and recovery support. SERVICES: RHS is requesting funding to support new and expanded behavioral services, increasing access to mental health, SUD, and MOUD services for the target population. RHS currently provides mental health and substance use disorder services directly (Column 1), and SUD services are currently being provided by primary care providers. In support of these services, RHS is proposing to hire 7.0 FTE direct MH/SUD staff by Year 2, including 1.0 FTE Psychiatrist, 4.0 FTE Licensed Clinical Social Workers, 1.0 FTE Case Manager, and 1.0 FTE Community Health Worker. Outreach to Community Action Agencies, Head Start programs, Aiken County Public Schools, the Homeless Coalition, and the Housing Authority will bring more individuals into care. POPULATION GROUP: RHS anticipates that the proposed BHSE expansion will increase the number of patients provided with behavioral health services by the end of the project period (2025), including a total of 2,300 mental health services patients, 700 SUD services patients, and 400 patients receiving MOUD services. Overall, the center estimates an increase of 200 unduplicated new health center patients. This will support the BHSE program purpose of increasing the number of patients who access mental health services and SUD services, including patients receiving treatment with MOUD.
