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To help rural primary care practices provide more comprehensive care to patients they serve, we highlight the role of the Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) on this resource page. We have drawn upon best practices and learnings from the Collaborative Care Model of behavioral health integration and adapted the BHCM role to make it a practical approach for providers in rural communities.

 A hybrid in-person and virtual event, the summit convened a diverse group of people with deep knowledge of the issues and dedication to finding solutions to discuss how stigma and health inequity increase barriers around substance use disorder (SUD). More importantly, presenters shared their knowledge, perspectives, and experience about how to overcome stigma and health inequities and more effectively address the SUD crisis in rural communities.

The aim of this resource page is to provide communities—including health and human services providers, individuals with substance use disorder, their families and friends, and local leaders—with convenient, evidence-based tools to use and share in addressing risks related to polysubstance use.

The Ecosystem of Recovery reflects the approach we are using in the Appalachian region of New York State to create broader access to and community-wide support for evidence-based and emerging best practices in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. This approach may be a helpful framework for other rural communities on this journey.

Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) programs address the high rates of overdose mortality among people recently released from incarceration and other health risks and challenges these individuals face. A primary care practice that implements a TCN program provides patients with care for chronic health conditions including substance use disorder upon release. It adds a community health worker with a history of incarceration who connects with patients before release, helps them navigate services in the community, and provides warm handoffs.

For people with substance use disorder, the road to recovery can be long and hard. In rural communities, where rates of overdose mortality have increased at higher rates than in urban areas, limited access to treatment makes the journey even harder. The ROADSS program, introduced here in a video, addresses that disparity by bringing treatment and resources closer to home.

This webinar focuses on the Behavioral Health Assessment Officer (BHAO) model to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder care in rural communities. A BHAO is a licensed behavioral health provider working in a rural emergency department, who evaluates and manages care for patients identified at screening to have behavioral health concerns.

Research shows that stigmatizing beliefs around substance use disorder (SUD) can be reduced by bringing people into contact with a person who has the stigmatized medical condition and educating them about effective treatments and the potential for recovery. This campaign applies those strategies through art and community workshops.

When the coronavirus surged in March 2020, Strong Recovery in Western New York made the tough, but necessary call to suspend their in-person groups for individuals with substance use disorder. They rapidly converted to video-based group therapy in April to continue providing this important service—the “heart and soul of our program.” Online groups have created new opportunities to connect with patients and will carry on after the pandemic.

In rural communities where pharmacotherapy may not be available in primary care practices, telemedicine-based treatment with providers outside the immediate area can serve as a 2-3 year bridge, supporting patients in their recovery while allowing PCPs to become trained in pharmacotherapy and integrate care management into their practices. A bridge program also supports SUD treatment programs in maintaining access to treatment for new patients.