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Vaya Health outlines service updates and plans mobile opioid treatment unit for Transylvania County
Summary
Vaya Health reported funding pressures from a state "mini budget," said provider rates were preserved despite a $9 million cut to single-stream funds, and announced a partnership to launch a mobile opioid treatment unit in Transylvania County alongside workforce and post-disaster supports.
Angie Garner, Community Relations Regional Director for Vaya Health, told the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners on April 27 that Vaya is managing the county's publicly funded behavioral health services and responding to state budget changes while pursuing regional initiatives.
Garner said the State's small "mini budget" reduced some funding streams but that anticipated Medicaid provider rate cuts were avoided and providers continue to be paid at standard Medicaid rates. She also reported a $9 million reduction in "single stream" funding used to serve uninsured or underinsured residents but said no immediate service impacts were expected.
Vaya has applied to be a regional NC ROOTS Hub under the state's rural health transformation initiative; if awarded, the role would coordinate workforce development, behavioral health, and social determinants efforts across the region on a five-year contract, Garner said. The proposal included partnerships supported by more than 150 commitment letters and a decision from the State was expected in May.
On substance use treatment, Garner announced a partnership with Behavioral Health Group to operate a mobile opioid treatment unit in Transylvania County. The unit is expected to operate five days per week from an initial central Medical Park Drive location, offering medication-assisted treatment, medical evaluations, telehealth physician access, and related clinical supports. Garner said the provider must implement outreach and marketing plans coordinated with local partners and that awareness would grow through coordination with the hospital, Department of Social Services, Public Health, and Vaya care managers.
Garner also described workforce development supports funded through Dogwood Health Trust that provide stipends to graduate-level behavioral health students, and noted Vaya's ongoing implementation of the Hope4NC program to deliver outreach and peer support following Hurricane Helene.
The Board asked how MOE (Maintenance of Effort) allocations are determined and how the mobile unit will be publicized; Garner replied that MOE distributions are population-based and detailed the required outreach and provider marketing responsibilities for the mobile unit. The Board thanked Garner for the update.
The county will monitor the RFP outcome, the mobile unit's rollout, and any state funding decisions that could affect local provider capacity.
