Star Community Health Inc

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TEACHING HEALTH CENTER (THC) GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) PAYMENT PROGRAM

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TEACHING HEALTH CENTER (THC) GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) PAYMENT PROGRAM

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

TEACHING HEALTH CENTER GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

TEACHING HEALTH CENTER (THC) GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) PAYMENT PROGRAM

HEALTH CENTER CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING

TEACHING HEALTH CENTER GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM - NAME OF TRAINING PROGRAM: CONROE MEDICAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROGRAM DISCIPLINE: FAMILY MEDICINE TYPE OF APPLICATION: EXPANSION ELIGIBLE ENTITY TYPE: FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, LONE STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. CONSORTIUM INITIAL YEAR TRAINING RESIDENTS: 1983 WEBSITE: WWW.LONESTARFAMILY.ORG OVERVIEW: CONROE MEDICAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION (CMEF) IS THE SPONSORING INSTITUTION OF A FREESTANDING ACGME-APPROVED FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM. THE CMEF RESIDENCY PROGRAM WAS FORMED IN 1979 WITH THE FIRST THREE RESIDENTS GRADUATING IN JUNE 1985. IN 2004, CMEF ENTERED INTO AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH LONE STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC., DBA LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER (LSFHC), TO OPERATE ALL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT FUNCTIONS OF CMEF, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT OF ALL PROGRAM RESIDENT AND FACULTY PHYSICIANS. LSFHC IS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND PREPARE TOMORROW'S FAMILY MEDICINE PROFESSIONALS. THE AFFILIATION BETWEEN CMEF AND LSFHC HAS BENEFITTED THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM TREMENDOUSLY AND HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS IN TEXAS, MANY WITH A PASSION FOR PRACTICING IN RURAL OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PRIMARY CARE OUTPATIENT TRAINING SITE IS LSFHC’S MAIN FQHC CLINIC LOCATED IN CONROE, TEXAS, WHICH HOUSES ALL CLINICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL, URGENT CARE, PRENATAL, PEDIATRIC WALK-IN, DENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, ANTICOAGULATION, LAB, X-RAY, AND PHARMACY. THE PRIMARY INPATIENT TRAINING SITE IS HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CONROE (HCA), LOCATED NEXT DOOR TO LSFHC IN CONROE. CONROE, TEXAS IS THE COUNTY SEAT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WHICH IS DESIGNATED AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA FOR PRIMARY CARE, DENTAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND CONTAINS TWO MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS ACROSS 23 CENSUS TRACTS. CMEF SEEKS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING PROGRAM BY 2 RESIDENCY SLOTS FOR EACH YEAR OF THE THREE-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES IN LSFHC’S SERVICE AREA. LSFHC SERVICE AREA INCLUDES MOST OF MONTGOMERY AND WALKER COUNTIES WITH A TOTAL POPULATION OF 553,528. 40 PERCENT OF THE SERVICE AREA POPULATION IS A RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITY, 15 PERCENT IS UNINSURED, 30 PERCENT IS CONSIDERED LOW-INCOME, 25 PERCENT IS UNDER AGE 18, AND 12 PERCENT IS OVER AGE 64. LSFHC’S TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES LOW-INCOME, UNINSURED, AND UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE COVERED BY MEDICAID AND MEDICARE. THE TARGET POPULATION IS ESTIMATED TO BE 161,157 BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION LIVING AT OR BELOW 200 PERCENT THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL). TOTAL FTE POSITIONS REQUESTED FOR ALL YEARS: 2/2/2 TOTAL FTE POSITIONS REQUESTED AY 2022-3: 2/0/0

HEALTH CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

ARRA - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - ADDRESS: 605 S. CONROE MEDICAL DRIVE, CONROE, TEXAS 77304-4722 PROJECT DIRECTOR: KAREN HARWELL PHONE NUMBER: 936-523-5234 EMAIL: KHARWELL@LONESTARFAMILY.ORG WEBSITE: WWW.LONESTARFAMILY.ORG AMOUNT REQUESTING: $1,100,000 GRANT #: H80CS02451 LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER SEEKS FUNDING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) TREATMENT FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE AIM TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL BY DIVERSIFYING OUR SERVICES TO PROMOTE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING OUR PATIENTS’ BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS, IN ALIGNMENT WITH EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES, IMPLEMENTING AN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) SYSTEM TRANSITION TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND FORTIFY BOTH PATIENT EXPERIENCE AND PROGRAM EVALUATION, INCREASING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEAM MEMBERS, AND STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR SUD TREATMENT. OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM RECENTLY DOUBLED IN SIZE TO SERVE MORE UNDERSERVED PATIENTS DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNDERSERVED PATIENTS STILL IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN OUR SERVICE AREA. WE HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECREASED PATIENT WAIT TIMES AND INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS SERVED AS A RESULT. DESPITE THIS PROGRESS, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUD TREATMENT FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IS STILL LACKING IN OUR COMMUNITY, RELATIVE TO THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THESE SERVICES. WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. TEXAS RANKS LAST IN ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA. FURTHERMORE, HRSA DESIGNATES ALL THREE OF THE PRIMARY COUNTIES WE SERVE—HARRIS, MONTGOMERY, AND WALKER—AS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IS EVEN MORE SCARCE THAN FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION, AS TRI-COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IS THE ONLY OTHER FACILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON A SLIDING SCALE. EXPANDING ACCESS TO SUD TREATMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS EQUALLY URGENT. THE MOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) PERFORMED IN 2022 BY HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL IN THE WOODLANDS ILLUMINAT ED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IDENTIFYING BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD TREATMENT AS TOP AREAS OF CONCERN FOR OUR SERVICE AREA. THE URGENCY OF THESE ISSUES IS PERHAPS BEST ILLUMINATED BY THE RESPONSES OF THE CHNA SURVEY PARTICIPANTS, WHO IDENTIFIED DRUG USE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITY. THE INABILITY TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE—INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTHCARE—WAS THE SECOND. ALTHOUGH WE RECENTLY DOUBLED OUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE CAPACITY, WE ARE STILL UNABLE TO MEET ALL THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR PATIENT POPULATION. THROUGH THE PROPOSED PROJECT, WE AIM TO: 1) ADD A PSYCHIATRIST TO VISIT OUR CONROE CLINICAL LOCATION ONE DAY PER WEEK, 2) ADD ONE FULL-TIME BILINGUAL FEMALE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR (LPC) TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS WHO PREFER TO SPEAK TO A FEMALE IN SPANISH, 3) INCREASE TRAINING FOR ALL MENTAL HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS TO ENSURE THEY ARE UTILIZING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, 4) DIVERSIFY THE TYPES OF THERAPY OFFERED BEYOND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY TO INCLUDE GROUP AND FAMILY THERAPY, TO MEET EVIDENCE-BASED STANDARDS FOR BEST PRACTICES, 5) OVERSEE OUR EHR TRANSITION TO IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND OVERHAUL OUR SCREENING, REFERRAL, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 6) AMPLIFY COLLABORATION WITH OUR MEDICAL TEAM AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO ADDRESS PATIENTS’ COMPLEX BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS, 7) ADD ANCILLARY SERVICES SUCH AS MASSAGE, ACUPUNCTURE, AND YOGA TO BOLSTER PATIENTS’ HOLISTIC HEALTH AND RECOVERY NEEDS, AND 8) STRENGTHEN OUR REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS AND LUNCH AND LEARNS TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING OUR PATIENTS’ NEEDS.

FY 2020 EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING (ECT)

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR LOOK-ALIKES

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH (SCH) DENTAL PROGRAM CURRENTLY PROVIDES ORAL HEALTH CARE VIA MOBILE DENTAL VANS TO STUDENTS IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL, GIVING THEM EASY ACCESS TO NECESSARY DENTAL CARE. FUNDING FROM HRSA THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING PROJECT WILL ENABLE SCH TO REPLACE OUR ALLENTOWN DENTAL VAN WHICH CURRENTLY PROVIDES QUALITY DENTAL CARE TO OVER 550 STUDENTS WITHIN THE ALLENTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. SCH DENTAL PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO SERVE ALL THOSE NEEDING DENTAL CARE, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS OR THE ABILITY TO PAY. PATIENTS RECEIVE ROUTINE CARE AND RESTORATIVE CARE ON THE DENTAL VANS. PROVIDERS ALSO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT PROPER ORAL HYGIENE TECHNIQUES AND HOW ORAL HEALTH IS LINKED TO OVERALL HEALTH. ALLENTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS A HIGH MEDICAID POPULATION, WITH 27% OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY AND 19.2% OF THE POPULATION LIVING BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. MORE THAN 50% OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCHES AT SCHOOLS TO HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THE DENTAL VAN IN ALLENTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL ADDRESS SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AS THE DENTAL SERVICES WILL BE UTILIZED BY CHILDREN WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE. THIS IN TURN HELPS TO ELIMINATE EMERGENT MEDICAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION, ANCILLARY COSTS FOR MEDICATIONS, EQUIPMENT AND FOLLOW UP CARE. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH DENTAL CARE CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CARE ISSUES. ORAL PAIN IS THE SECOND HIGHEST NON-EMERGENT REASON THAT PEOPLE UTILIZE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ST. LUKE’S NETWORK. MANY OF THESE PATIENTS ARE ON MEDICAID AND MOST DENTISTS IN OUR REGION DO NOT ACCEPT MEDICAID BECAUSE OF THE LOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES. PROVIDING DENTAL SERVICES IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES HELPS REDUCE UNNECESSARY ED USAGE. IN ADDITION TO DENTAL SERVICES, WE WILL HAVE A VAN THAT IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING LIMITED MEDICAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTO N COUNTY LOCATIONS. CHILDREN AND ADULTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE MEDICAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES SUCH AS EXAMINATIONS, POTENTIALLY VACCINATION AND SCREENING/PREVENTIVE CARE. MANY SCHOOL-AGED DO NOT HAVE ACCESS OR THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEIR PARENTS ARE FACED WITH OBSTACLES SUCH AS LACK OF INSURANCE, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, OR GENERAL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, THUS PREVENTING THESE CHILDREN FROM RECEIVING THE CARE THEY NEED. INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE FOR THE STUDENTS WE ARE HELPING TO REINFORCE THE VALUE OF HEALTHCARE, SETTING THE CHILDREN UP FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IN THE FUTURE.

ACCELERATING CANCER SCREENING - IN THIS PROJECT, LONE STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. (DBA LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER), AN H80 GRANT RECIPIENT AND THE ONLY FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER HEADQUARTERED IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS, IS PARTNERING WITH MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, AWARD-WINNING, AND NCI-DESIGNATED CANCER CENTER, TO ENHANCE SCREENING AND REFERRAL RATES FOR BREAST CANCER, COLORECTAL CANCER, AND CERVICAL CANCER IN AN UNDERSERVED PATIENT POPULATION. IN LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER’S SERVICE AREAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY, AND WALKER COUNTY, TEXAS, THE TARGET PATIENT POPULATION EXPERIENCES BREAST, COLORECTAL, AND CERVICAL CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY RATES THAT ARE HIGHER THAN STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES. DESPITE PATIENTS’ ELEVATED HEALTH RISKS, THE SCREENING AND REFERRAL RATES AT LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER FOR ALL THREE TYPES OF CANCER ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OUR GOALS. WITH THE AIM OF SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVING THESE METRICS, LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WILL PARTNER WITH MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER TO ENHANCE OUTREACH, CARE COORDINATION, ELIGIBILITY ASSISTANCE, AND PATIENT NAVIGATION SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND MITIGATE BARRIERS TO CARE. IN ADDITION, LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION FOR PATIENTS AND PARTNER WITH MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER TO PROVIDE MAIL-IN FECAL IMMUNOCHEMICAL TESTS (FIT) TO PATIENTS FOR COLORECTAL SCREENINGS. BOTH MEASURES WILL MITIGATE BARRIERS TO CARE, THEREBY SUPPORTING THE AIM OF EXPANDING ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY. LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WILL AUGMENT PATIENT ENGAGEMENT AND ACTIVATION BY DEPLOYING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND IMPROVING STAFF TRAINING TO IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE. LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER AND MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER WILL COLLABORATE TO TRACK PATIENT SCREENING, REFERRALS, AND FOLLOW-UP TO IMPROVE SCREENING AND REFERRAL RATES. LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WILL ALSO ENHANCE HEALTH IT WORKFLOWS TO MEET THE SAME OBJECTIVE. L ASTLY, LONE STAR FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WILL STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR THEIR STAFF PROVIDED BY MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER TO BOLSTER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH (SCH) DENTAL PROGRAM CURRENTLY PROVIDES ORAL HEALTH CARE VIA MOBILE DENTAL VANS TO STUDENTS IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL, GIVING THEM EASY ACCESS TO NECESSARY DENTAL CARE. FUNDING FROM HRSA THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING PROJECT WILL ENABLE SCH TO PURCHASE A DENTAL VAN TO SERVE STUDENTS AT THREE OF THE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEIGHBORING MONROE COUNTY. AS PER THE HRSA RURAL ANALYZER, MANY PARTS OF MONROE COUNTY ARE CATEGORIZED AS RURAL. IT IS WELL CITED THAT RURAL RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTH INEQUITIES DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE, POOR DIETS, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AND THEY OFTEN HAVE NO INSURANCE OR ARE UNDERINSURED. SCH’S 3 EXISTING DENTAL VANS ARE CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHER SCHOOLS AND LACK THE CAPACITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL SITES IN MONROE COUNTY. SCH DENTAL PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO SERVE ALL THOSE NEEDING DENTAL CARE, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS OR THE ABILITY TO PAY. PATIENTS RECEIVE ROUTINE CARE AND RESTORATIVE CARE ON THE DENTAL VANS. PROVIDERS ALSO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT PROPER ORAL HYGIENE TECHNIQUES AND HOW ORAL HEALTH IS LINKED TO OVERALL HEALTH. MONROE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA HAS A HIGH MEDICAID POPULATION, WITH 17% OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY AND 27.8% OF THE POPULATION LIVING BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. MORE THAN 50% OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCHES AT SCHOOLS TO HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THE DENTAL VAN IN MONROE COUNTY WILL ADDRESS SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AS THE DENTAL SERVICES WILL BE UTILIZED BY CHILDREN WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE. THIS IN TURN HELPS TO ELIMINATE EMERGENT MEDICAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION, ANCILLARY COSTS FOR MEDICATIONS, EQUIPMENT AND FOLLOW UP CARE. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH DENTAL CARE CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CARE ISSUES. ORAL PAIN IS THE SECOND HIGHEST NON-EMERGENT REASON THAT PEOPLE UTILIZE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ST. LUKE’S NETWORK. MANY OF THESE PATIENTS ARE ON MEDICAID AND MOST DENTISTS IN OUR REGION DO NOT ACCEPT MEDICAID BECAUSE OF THE LOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES. PROVIDING DENTAL SERVICES IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES HELPS REDUCE UNNECESSARY ED USAGE. INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE FOR THE STUDENTS WE ARE HELPING TO REINFORCE THE VALUE OF HEALTHCARE, SETTING THE CHILDREN UP FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IN THE FUTURE.

FY 2018 CAPITAL ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS

ARRA - INCREASE SERVICES TO HEALTH CENTERS

RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM - PROJECT TITLE: STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE RURAL HEALTH SERVICES IN NORTHEASTERN PA APPLICANT: STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH (STAR) ADDRESS: 520 EAST BROAD STREET, SUITE 108, BETHLEHEM, PA 18018 PROJECT DIRECTOR: ERIC ROTHSTEIN, LPN, ACA, AIAA FUNDS REQUESTED: $976,611.00 OVER FOUR YEARS FUNDING TRACK: REGULAR STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE RURAL HEALTH SERVICES IN NORTHEASTERN PA WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING CARBON COUNTY'S THREE RURAL CENSUS TRACTS/BOROUGHS OF NESQUEHONING, LANSFORD, AND SUMMIT HILL. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL COMBINE STAR’S EXPERTISE AND OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE DEEP COMMUNITY TIES AND KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, INC. (CD) AND SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE & COUNSELING CENTER (SARCC), AS WELL AS THE RURAL, LOCAL ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL MINERS CAMPUS (SLM), TO EXTEND ITS SERVICE DELIVERY INTO RURAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE TARGET AREA THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE IS AN ANTHRACITE COAL REGION OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE POCONO MOUNTAINS. THE RURAL TARGET POPULATION IS CHARACTERIZED BY HIGHER LEVELS OF POVERTY (13%), DISABILITY (33.2%), AND DIABETES (17%), AND IS GENERALLY OLDER, LESS EDUCATED, AND REPORTS MORE FREQUENT POOR MENTAL HEALTH DAYS COMPARED TO ITS COMMONWEALTH OF PA AND U.S. COUNTERPARTS. MOREOVER, THE TARGET POPULATION FACES HIGHER RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THAN MOST OTHER COUNTIES IN PA WITH REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE ON THE RISE. COLLECTIVELY, THESE FACTORS REPRESENT CRITICAL DISPARITIES THAT UNDERMINE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE TARGET POPULATION. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE CRITICAL HEALTH DISPARITIES PRESENT IN THE TARGET AREA BY IMPLEMENTING THE PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME (PCMH) EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL. THE THREE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO: (1) COLLABORATE WITH CONSORTIUM PARTNERS TO PLAN TRANSITION OF RURAL HEALTH CLINICS (RHCS) TO FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER LOOK ALIKE (FQHC-LAS) AND ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO RURAL PATIENTS. (2) EXPAND THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INCLUDE NEW AND ENHANCED HEALTH CARE AND PATIENT CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN RURAL TARGET AREA. (3) PRESERVE ACCESS TO PATIENT CENTERED CARE AND ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO RURAL PATIENTS. WORKING WITH CONSORTIUM PARTNERS, BY THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR PROJECT STAR WILL HAVE TRANSITIONED THREE RHCS IN TAMAQUA, LANSFORD, AND RINGTOWN TO STAR’S FQHC-LA MODEL OF CARE. FURTHER, STAR WILL HAVE ACHIEVED MEASURABLE POPULATION HEALTH IMPROVEMENT IN THE TARGET AREA AND ESTABLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AFTER HRSA GRANT FUNDING HAS ENDED. STAR HAS A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF DELIVERING COMPREHENSIVE WELL AND SICK PRIMARY CARE, OB/GYN, DENTAL, AND PEDIATRIC HEALTH SERVICES TO URBAN MUAS OF PENNSYLVANIA. ITS LONG LIST OF ACCOLADES UNDERSCORES ITS PROVEN CAPABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. IN FACT, HRSA HAS NAMED STAR A 2023- AND 2022-STAR ACCOLADES RECIPIENT FOR ADVANCING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ADDRESSING SOCIAL RISK FACTORS AND HEALTH QUALITY LEADER. STAR IS REQUESTING FUNDING PREFERENCE CONSIDERATION. THE PROPOSED PROJECT MEETS THE FUNDING PREFERENCE TWO, MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY/POPULATIONS (MUC/MUPS), BECAUSE THE PROJECT SERVICE AREA IS IN MUC/MUPS COALDALE AND SHENANDOAH.

FY 2020 HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM LOOK-ALIKES: EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM

FY 2020 CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAM

FY 2018 CAPITAL ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS