Olympia - The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), are launching the Health Engagement Hub model, an innovative approach to providing comprehensive medical, behavioral health, harm reduction, and social services in one location for people who use drugs. With a legislative allocation of $7 million over state fiscal years 2024 and 2025, this pilot program (RCW 71.24.112) aims to develop and implement five initial sites across the state.
The first two sites, Blue Mountain Heart to Heart in Walla Walla and HealthPoint in Auburn, were selected for their capacity to serve rural and urban communities disproportionately impacted by opioid and other drug use.
Health engagement hubs offer a broad array of services designed to reduce overdose risk through outreach, peer engagement, and harm reduction. The services are available on a same or next day basis with no appointment necessary and include basic primary care and medications for Opioid Use Disorder. “The services offered are comprehensive and are key for people who are not actively seeking treatment, who may have experienced stigma in traditional health care settings. Instead, we are meeting people in settings they already trust and feel comfortable in,” says Sarah Melfi-Klein, Unit Manager at HCA.
People who use drugs often face stigma that prevents them from accessing traditional health care. According to DOH Drug User Health Adviser Tim Candela, “Health engagement hubs were born out of listening to the experience of people who use drugs in Washington. This is our attempt at redesigning the health care delivery system to truly meet the needs of individuals holistically.”
The Health Engagement Hub model is a core recommendation of the Substance Use and Recovery Services Advisory Committee and the State Opioid Overdose Response Plan. It also builds on the foundational work from the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research at the University of Washington Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute (ADAI), including low-barrier buprenorphine Meds-First programs.
HCA, DOH, and ADAI will provide each site with hands on assistance covering harm reduction, engagement strategies, clinical implementations, and insurance billing expertise. The health engagement hubs are encouraged to collaborate and share lessons learned to enhance their impact.
The effectiveness of health engagement hubs will be evaluated based on their accessibility and community impact, with expectations of improving retention in care, demonstrating cost-effectiveness, enhancing health equity, and saving lives.
