Fiscal year 2025 expanded hours. - project title: expanded hours for comprehensive primary care services at mountain community health partnership (MCHP) applicant organization name: mountain community…

Fiscal year 2025 expanded hours. - project title: expanded hours for comprehensive primary care services at mountain community health partnership (MCHP) applicant organization name: mountain community health partnership, incorporated health center program grant number: H80CS24141 address: 86 N. Mitchell AVE., bakersville, NC 28705-6502 contact phone number (VOICE): (828) 688-2104 website address: WWW.MCHP.care funding opportunity number: HRSA-25-084 program funds requested in the application: this application requests a total of $998,070 in expanded hours funding, with $499,035,000 for year 1 and $499,035 for year 2. Mountain community health partnership, incorporated (MCHP), a non-profit community health center, has been providing accessible, affordable, high-quality, patient-focused primary health care to residents of mitchell and yancey counties in rural western north carolina since 1975. In 2023, MCHP served 10,511 total patients from six service delivery sites: bakersville, burnsville, celo, micaville, and spruce pine health centers and the bakersville dental clinic. Need: MCHP prioritizes services to low-income residents in its service area. Our service area is characterized by high rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and a significant percentage of the population living below the poverty line. Limited clinic hours create barriers to care for many residents, especially those with inflexible work schedules or transportation challenges. By expanding our hours, we aim to provide more accessible care and reduce health disparities in our community. Proposed project: MCHP seeks funding through the HRSA FY25 expanded hours funding opportunity (HRSA-25-084) to enhance access to comprehensive primary care services by extending the operating hours of our health centers. This project will expand service hours at four MCHP sites: bakersville health center, burnsville health center, celo health center, and spruce pine health center. This project will: 1. Increase operating hours by three (3) hours per clinic one day per week at four MCHP health centers for a total of twelve (12) additional hours per week. 2. Introduce early morning and evening hours to accommodate patients unable to visit during traditional hours. 3. Improve patient access to primary care services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, and mental health services. 4. Enhance patient outcomes by providing more timely and flexible access to healthcare. Expanding the operating hours of MCHP's health centers is a critical step towards improving healthcare access and outcomes for our rural community, increasing patient visits, and improving access to care for working individuals and families, which will allow for enhanced management of chronic conditions and reduced emergency room visits, and will positively impact the overall health outcomes in mitchell and yancey counties.