Federal funds to boost Benton County health program

A project to expand access to health care in Benton County got a $2.9 million boost thanks to the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act.

The award, which will be administered through Katy Trail Community Health, will support the Harbor Village project in Benton County. The project is a partnership between Katy Trail Community Health, Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare, Care Connection for Aging Services and the Friends of the Warsaw Senior Center. 

Project Administrator Irv Jensen said the project seeks to improve the overall health and wellness of Benton County residents through integrated health, wellness, recreation, and care coordination programs.

“With this award we will be able to dramatically increase the number of people we can serve with far better services and resources,” Jensen said. 

In addition to the federal grant, the project also saw an infusion of about $500,000 in state support last year, and, Jensen said, another $350,000 in state funds is pending.

“With the state support, we were able to buy the land,” Jensen said.

Though the project hopes to offer health and mental health services to all ages, Jensen said the growing senior population would be a particular focus of the project once doors open.

Jensen said the median age in Benton County is 46.3 years of age, making Benton the third oldest county in Missouri. 

About 27 percent of the county population is older than 65 and the U.S. Census Bureau projects growth of nearly 18 percent by 2030, Jensen said. 

He said the hope was that by providing a variety of health and wellness programs, the project can increase the overall health of county residents and will allow seniors to continue living independently longer.

“Providing care through a nursing home is one of the most expensive ways to coordinate care and services for seniors,” Jensen said.

He said the group will be revising its timelines with the new award, but hopes the project can be completed in the next two years.

Chris Stewart, executive director of Katy Trail Community Health, said the award is an essential step in expanding much-needed coverage. 

“We are elated. We are really looking forward to creating a space that will allow Benton Count residents to have integrated services delivered to them. Katy Trail and our partners believe that is the best way to deliver care to the area,” Stewart said.

Stewart said directing the federal dollars to the project was the best possible use for the money and echoed Jensen’s feeling that the completed project will be a major boon for Benton residents.

“We think it is our responsibility to leverage dollars to build the capacity of ourselves and our partners. This is a perfect example of that,” Stewart said. 

In a Friday evening press release, Harbor Village Board Chairman Mike Mais said the funds would help Benton County realize a vision that has been in development for years. 

“This award makes our project, which has been on the drawing board for over a decade, a reality. We are fortunate to have great partners like Katy Trail to help us bring our vision to life. The Harbor Village Partnership is focused on combining primary care and mental health services, with senior services for coordinated and individualized care programs,” Mais said.

All told, the state of Missouri is set to receive more than $24 million as part of a $727 million investment in community health center grants made available through the health care reform law signed by President Barack Obama in March.

Health center officials estimate the awards will help them serve about 30,148 new patients in Missouri.