Rural Health Operations

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What We Do

The Rural Health Operations Team works to connect organizations and rural primary healthcare sites to resources, to increase access to quality care, and coordinate existing services. The goal of these efforts is to build strong, coordinated networks in communities while avoiding duplication of efforts. One way the team accomplishes this is through our State Designated Rural Health Center Program funding. 

The Rural Health Operations team provides support for the operations of community-based primary health clinics sites throughout the state ensuring the provision of basic health care. The Operations Team:

  • Administers the State Designated Rural Health Center Program Funding
  • Provides technical assistance to State Designated Rural Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and safety net organizations
  • Provides quarterly trainings and newsletters to State Designated Rural Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics

Also, the Rural Health Operations team is available to refer organizations to resources regarding the following:

  • Social Drivers of Health
  • Clinical Quality
  • EHR Utilization
  • Chronic Care Management

State Designated Rural Health Center (SDRHC) Program

NC ORH assists underserved communities and populations with developing innovative strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effectiveness of health care.  Distribution of primary care providers in North Carolina has historically been skewed toward cities and larger towns.  Rural residents, who often face transportation issues, find accessing primary care services difficult.  Through the establishment of State Designated Rural Health Centers (SDRHC), NC ORH partners with local communities to provide funding to improve the ability to serve underserved populations who would otherwise be unable to access needed primary care services due to geographic, economic, or other barriers. Thus, SDRHCs have become an integral part of the health care safety net for North Carolina’s rural and underserved residents.  

The primary purpose of the state designation is to support new access points and stabilize current access in care sites that do not already receive support through the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation. However, funding is available to support and sustain access to care in rural areas that may face sufficient challenges without the SDRHC funding. Recognizing the need for access to healthcare as the demographics of NC, as well as access points, change (due to FQHC growth and multi-site practice locations) is necessary for incubating and supporting the growth of new access points for health care in rural NC.   

ORH defines an SDRHC as a health care safety net organization that is a 501(c)3 non-profit, community-owned organization with an active board that has as its primary mission to provide primary health care services to those residing in its community.  SDRHCs must be located within communities that are both rural and underserved and must currently be delivering primary health care services. 

State Designated Rural Health Centers offer high quality primary health care services to all residents.

  • Rural Health Centers are in rural communities that are medically underserved.
  • All Rural Health Centers accept Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.
  • The organization operating the Rural Health Center is a 501(c) 3 non-profit community-owned organization.
  • The Rural Health Center administers the Office of Rural Health’s (ORH) Primary Care Access Plan (PCAP) and/or Behavioral Health Access Plan (BHAP) to uninsured individuals in the service area who meet certain criteria.
  • PCAP/BHAP eligibility is based on income.
  • PCAP/BHAP patients pay a co-payment. These visits are reimbursable at a rate of $100.00 per PCAP encounter. BHAP visits are reimbursable at a rate of $75.00 per encounter.

Related Program Resources

State Designated Rural Health Center Manual
Rural Health Centers Program Profile
There are 13 organizations identified as SDRHCS supporting 18 sites across NC
2022 MAP/BH Manual
PCAP BHAP Manual 2024
Medicaid Regions Map
Rural Resources

Organizations interested in becoming a State Designated Rural Health Center must complete an application. The website will be updated when the application period opens. See Current ORH Grant Opportunities.

Contact Information

Dorothea Brock, Program Manager
dorothea.brock@dhhs.nc.gov

Leslie Wolcott, Rural Health Operations Specialist - Regions 3 & 5
Leslie.wolcott@dhhs.nc.gov 

Kimberly R. McNeil, Rural Health Operations Specialist - Regions 4 & 6
kimberly.r.mcneil@dhhs.nc.gov

Justin Kearley, Rural Health Operations Specialist - Regions 1 & 2
Justin.Kearley@dhhs.nc.gov

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