NCDHHS awards $10 million to strengthen EMS workforce and expand rural behavioral health services
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced it will distribute $10 million to 39 local EMS agencies through the NC Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen the state’s emergency medical services workforce and expand access to behavioral health care in rural communities.
The funding, awarded through the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services for Mobile Integrated Health, is designed to enhance EMS-led programs that connect residents to mental health and substance use disorder treatment– particularly beyond the initial 911 response.
State leaders say the investment is aimed at improving access to care in rural areas, where overdose rates and overdose-related emergency department visits have historically been higher than in urban parts of North Carolina.
“Every North Carolinian deserves access to safe, affordable, quality health care, no matter where they live,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “Investing in our EMS workforce and expanding behavioral health services in the rural parts of the state will help North Carolinians get the care they need closer to home.”
NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized the importance of supporting frontline providers in expanding care options.
“Improving access to care starts with investing in our health care providers, including our frontline EMS workforce,” Sangvai said. “By strengthening EMS-led Mobile Integrated Health programs, we can provide timely treatment, support life-saving recovery, and ultimately reduce preventable overdoses.”
According to the department, the Rural Health Transformation Program funding equips EMS agencies with additional tools, training and resources to provide follow-up care after overdose incidents, administer medication for opioid use disorder, and connect individuals with ongoing treatment and recovery services. These efforts are intended to help rural residents receive care directly in their communities.
“EMS professionals are uniquely positioned at the intersection of emergency response and health care delivery, serving as a critical link in the continuum of care for rural communities,” said Tom Mitchell, chief of the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Officials say the initiative recognizes EMS as a key part of North Carolina’s health care system and a critical partner in addressing behavioral health and substance use challenges statewide.
Local agencies receiving Mobile Integrated Health funding include:
Brunswick County EMS, Buncombe County EMS, Columbus County EMS, Cumberland County EMS, Onslow County EMS, and Cape Fear Valley Mobile Integrated Health, among 39 total recipients across the state.
A full list of participating EMS agencies spans counties including Alamance, Cabarrus, Gaston, New Hanover region partners, Orange, Rowan, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and others.
State officials say the program represents a broader effort to improve long-term health outcomes and strengthen rural access to lifesaving services.
More information about the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program is available through the NCDHHS website.
