Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
Quality Improvement Fund - Justice Involved - Project Director Name: Ellen Vance, CEO Contact Phone Number: 606-487-9505 or Fax: 606-436-0071 Contact Email Address: ellen@kymha.org Website: https://www.kymha.com Health Center Program Grant Number: H80CS07772 Address: 279 E Main St., Hazard, KY 41701 Kentucky Mountain Health Alliance, Inc. (KMHA) was established in 2005 by a group of community healthcare and social service partners who had a similar mission to create a healthcare safety net for the underserved or at-risk for homelessness population. KMHA has been operating the Perry County Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) Program since 2006, offering services at one permanent site location, Little Flower Clinic. In 2022, KMHA served a total of 2,952 unduplicated patients. Over 90% of the patient population is White and many patients live in the rural community. Approximately 41% of the KMHA patients are uninsured. KMHA, with the recent partnership with Quantum Healthcare Associates (a local Rural Health Clinic), now operates 2 sites plus the mobile medical unit to provide care to populations experiencing social determinants of health (SDOH). In 2023, KMHA served a total of 11,238 unduplicated patients across both sites. The service area is home to nearly 77,000 persons, 41,000 which are low-income. KMHA’s robust behavioral health and substance use disorder program provides various supports for a rural community that is greatly impacted by high rates of mental health conditions and substance use disorder. The Health Center has a strong partnership with the Kentucky River Regional Jail, providing MAT services to those who are incarcerated and supporting persons before their reentry and after their reentry into the community. On-site at the Health Center, KMHA MAT prescribers prescribe Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances and FDA-approved medications to treat patients during medically supervised opioid withdrawal or OUD maintenance treatment. Referrals for the program are accepted from a variety of sources including primary care prescribers, needle syringe exchange programs, hospital emergency rooms, inpatient units, jails, drug court and self-referrals. Before leaving the clinic, each patient receives education on overdose prevention and a prescription for naloxone. KMHA requires active patients to complete mental health and substance use disorder counseling at least two times per month. As part of a comprehensive approach to reducing risk for people struggling with opioid abuse, KMHA has increased awareness of the appropriate use of vivitrol through patient, family, community, and personnel training. KMHA operates a mobile unit that can be used on site, in partnership with the Jail, to reduce barriers in providing medical care services. KMHA will focus on addressing the following critical health needs and case management services, providing services both in person (via mobile unit) and via telehealth, where applicable. Critical Health Needs: Managing chronic conditions, Prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of HIV, Reducing risk of drug overdose, Addressing mental health and SUD treatment needs and Case Management Services: Food insecurity, Lack of transportation, Housing insecurity, and Financial strain. In partnership with Kentucky River Regional Medical Center, KMHA will provide the following to support transitions in care to JI-R individuals within the health center’s scope during the 90-day period before their release from incarceration: - Care coordination to facilitate continuity of care; - Health evaluations to identify acute and chronic physical health and behavioral health needs; - Screening and treatment for communicable diseases, including HIV; - Primary health services; - Behavioral health, including initiation and continuation MAT and peer recovery support; and - Recommendations and referrals for post-release care, including SUD treatment.
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).