Recently Awarded RHTP Funds will Expand MIH Programs in Eastern Oregon
Rural Oregonians in some of the state’s most medically underserved communities will soon have greater access to healthcare thanks to a new grant that will expand ORH’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program.
ORH and the Oregon Mobile Integrated Healthcare Coalition (ORMIHC) have received a competitive Catalyst Award from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to support the establishment of MIH programs in Grant and Harney counties and expand a current pilot MIH program in Wheeler County.
All three counties are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for primary, dental and mental healthcare.
The MIH model uses specially trained paramedics, emergency medical personnel and others to deliver preventive care, chronic disease management, post-hospital follow-up and health education directly to residents in their homes. By bringing care directly to residents, especially older adults, the program aims to improve health outcomes, reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and ease pressure on rural healthcare and emergency medical systems.
“MIH strengthens the integration of services, care continuity and follow-up and optimizes limited EMS resources,” ORH Director Robert Duehmig said. “The grant will allow us to provide technical assistance to establish new MIH programs in rural and remote communities.”
The goal is to eventually expand the MIH program throughout rural and remote Oregon while creating scholarship opportunities for community paramedic training.
Sabrina Ballew, chairperson of ORMIHC, said the nonprofit is proud to partner with ORH on the initiative.
“This investment strengthens our shared commitment to expanding access, building local workforce capacity and supporting frontier communities,” Ballew said. “With this funding, Oregon will launch new MIH programs, grow the next generation of community paramedics and deepen the impact of innovative care models already underway in Wheeler County.”
MIH programs are designed to reduce the burden on rural health systems and improve rural community health outcomes by providing preventative and nonemergency care where people live. Community paramedics can make regular home visits to help residents monitor and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, provide health screenings and, depending on their level of licensure, vaccinations — all of which can prevent avoidable emergencies.
According to Melissa Varnum, ORH’s Rural MIH Program coordinator, one of the greatest strengths of the MIH model is its flexibility in responding to specific community needs.
Each participating community will determine its specific target populations and referral processes. Communities may focus on people living with chronic conditions, high utilizers of the emergency medical system or patients being discharged from the hospital.
"This award is a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of rural Oregon communities,” said Varnum. “We are excited for the opportunity to support communities in developing innovative solutions to improve access to care and strengthen collaboration across EMS and healthcare systems."
The Catalyst Award is part of the state's RHTP funding and is one of two pools established by OHA to deliver federal dollars to rural Oregon. The competitive Catalyst Award grants will provide about $80.1 million to 103 rural health projects led by 85 organizations statewide.
Another $17 million will go toward Immediate Impact Awards to fund 33 new ready-to-go projects this year. Those awards build on the $6.5 million in Immediate Impact Awards announced in April to support 12 other shovel-ready projects this year, as well as $45 million in Transformation Awards to rural hospitals and certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).
For questions about MIH, email Melissa Varnum. For general questions about RHTP, please visit OHA’s RHTP webpage or ORH’s RHTP webpage.