MRHC Recovery Center Awarded Opioid Settlement Funding

Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) announced that the Recovery Center has been awarded more than $500,000 in Iowa opioid settlement funding through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment program. The award will support a regional initiative to expand evidence-based opioid use disorder (OUD) services in Carroll, Crawford, Shelby, and Audubon counties.

“This investment allows us to reduce barriers that often prevent rural residents from getting timely, effective care,” said Shannon Black, CEO of MRHC. “It strengthens our ability to serve patients close to home while responding to a growing regional need.”

MRHC’s Recovery Center will use the funding to strengthen the region’s continuum of care, expanding access to intake and outpatient services, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and chronic pain management. The initiative will increase access for Crawford County residents through a partnership with Crawford County Public Health in Denison, including on-site intake assessments and transportation to Manning for outpatients and MAT services.

The initiative includes establishing an integrated MAT clinic at MRHC and strengthening its multimodal chronic pain management program to reduce opioid reliance and improve outcomes. The project also supports specialized staff training, program leadership, workforce recruitment, and retention efforts to ensure long-term sustainability.

“MAT is one of the most effective tools we have for treating opioid use disorder,” said CNO, Michelle Andersen, RN, BSN. “This funding allows us to integrate treatment, education and care coordination so more people can access services and stay engaged in prevention and recovery.”

A key focus of the project is restoring local access for Crawford County residents following the closure of Denison’s former outpatient provider. MRHC will partner with Crawford County Public Health to offer onsite intake assessments in Denison and coordinated transportation to treatment services in Manning.

MRHC’s Recovery Center is uniquely positioned to serve medically-complex patients, including high-risk pregnant women, through access to 24/7 nursing, diagnostics, emergency services and coordinated obstetric care through a partnership with Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, allowing patients to remain in treatment during medically-vulnerable stages of pregnancy.

“This support allows us to expand care while preserving the individualized, hospital-based approach that has defined the Recovery Center for more than four decades,” said Taya Vonnahme, Recovery Center Director. “By strengthening access, staffing and coordination, we can better meet patients where they are and support lasting recovery.”

MRHC will continue working with regional partners, including county leaders, hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations, to reduce stigma, strengthen referral pathways and improve access to care.

In addition to the opioid settlement funding, MRHC has applied for a Centers of Excellence designation through the state’s Healthy Hometown initiative under the Hometown Connections strategy. The designation would support rural health system partnerships and workforce recruitment and retention efforts, with award announcements expected in mid-January and contracts beginning in mid-February.

Influential Visits Pave the Way for Behavioral Health Initiatives in Rural Iowa

Director Garcia visit

In a significant development for Iowa, influential lawmakers are turning their attention to the critical needs of behavioral health across Iowa, particularly in rural areas where access to comprehensive services and reimbursements remain a challenge. Recent visits from prominent figures underscore a renewed commitment to addressing the root causes of substance abuse and promoting mental health support in communities throughout the state.

Director Garcia visitOn National Rural Health Day (November 16th), Iowa Health and Human Services Director, Kelly Garcia, and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Robert Kruse, visited MRHC and the Recovery Center. Their presence underscored the critical need for integrated behavioral health services, with a focus on mental health and substance abuse. Engaging with healthcare professionals, community leaders, and the hospital’s board and senior leadership team, Director Garcia and Dr. Kruse discussed collaborative solutions to improve statewide healthcare and to also address the unique needs of rural communities.

During her visit to Manning on September 12th, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird highlighted the importance of tailoring initiatives to the unique challenges faced by these areas stating, “Rural communities often encounter barriers in accessing quality healthcare and addiction treatment services. The opioid settlement funds are one-time funds that could provide an opportunity to bridge those gaps and make a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by opioid addiction in our rural communities.” Brenna Bird

Earlier this year, agreements were reached with manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies to provide nearly $50 billion in payments for state and local governments across the nation. Funding was distributed to each state, and in Iowa a portion of those funds were distributed to each county for the county supervisors to disperse locally. The rest of the funds are currently held at the state level with the anticipation that lawmakers will determine appropriations in the next legislative session.

Charles GrassleySenator Charles Grassley as well as Republican presidential candidate and North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum, accompanied by his wife, Kathryn, also visited MRHC earlier this fall to gain a better understanding of the healthcare needs affecting rural areas and the unique position of MRHC and the Recovery Center.

These visits provided lawmakers with a firsthand look at the Recovery Center’s efforts to support residential and outpatient recovering addicts. MRHC, serving as a model for rural healthcare services, became a platform for discussions on comprehensive strategies to address behavioral health challenges, reimbursements, and access to care in rural Iowa.Doug Bergum

Director Garcia emphasized the importance of addressing behavioral health needs, stating, “By understanding the challenges faced by the communities across our state, utilizing research-based methodologies, and taking a comprehensive approach to address the most critical health needs, we can develop targeted and effective strategies to improve our overall health outcomes.”

These visits reflect a broader, bipartisan commitment to address rural healthcare challenges in a unified and strategic way. This holistic approach starts with a grassroots understanding of the challeng es affecting rural hospitals accompanied by discussions to adjust policies at the state and federal levels. These collaborations reflect an aligned dedication to build healthier and more resilient commun ities across the state.

As Iowa takes a significant stride forward in the battle against opioid addiction, the opioid settlements stand as a beacon of hope for rural communities. MRHC Administration and the leadership of the Recovery Center are taking this opportunity to educate local county supervisors as well as statewide leaders to better understand the services that already exist, their vision for addressing this epidemic, and the potential for MRHC and the Recovery Center to serve even more clients and their families.