Hudson Headwaters Health Network received an annual $325,000 grant from the federal Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) to expand treatment options for substance abuse and medication addiction.
“Addiction and abuse of opioids, including both heroin and prescription pain medications, is a serious and increasing public health problem,” said Dr. John Rugge, Hudson Headwaters CEO. “Community health centers such as Hudson Headwaters have a role to play in addressing this issue.”
Rugge said that the grant funds would help Hudson Headwaters improve collaboration with area substance abuse treatment programs.
The award to Hudson Headwaters was part of $94 million in Affordable Care Act funding that is going to 271 health centers across the country.
In making the announcement, HSS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said “The opioid epidemic is one of the most pressing public health issues in the United States today. Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment and integrating these services in health centers bolsters nationwide efforts to curb opioid misuse and abuse, supports approximately 124,000 new patients accessing substance use treatment for recovery and helps save lives.”
Rugge said research demonstrates that a whole-patient approach to treatment through a combination of medication, counseling, and behavioral therapies is most successful in treating opioid use disorders. In 2014, over 1.3 million people received behavioral health services at community health centers. This represents a 75 percent increase since 2008.
Alloy said Hudson Headwaters’ behavioral health staff includes licensed social workers, psychologists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Hudson Headwaters does not currently provide direct substance abuse services.
Hudson Headwaters is a nonprofit, community-based network of 17 health centers serving the Adirondack North Country and Glens Falls Region since 1981.