Primary Care Access Plan / Behavioral Health Access Plan Application (pdf)
The goal of the Primary Care Access Plan (PCAP) and Behavioral Health Access Plan (BHAP) are to help residents of North Carolina access primary health care services and integrated behavioral health care services when they meet financial criteria and do not have affordable primary health care coverage. The plan is funded through state appropriations authorized starting in 1973 by the NC General Assembly. In 1977, the first Rural Health Center opened its doors. To date, the NC Office of Rural Health has supported the development of many rural primary care sites. Many are operating today as federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics or private physician offices.
As the healthcare landscape has changed, rural residents continue to find accessing primary care and behavioral health services difficult. To address this need, ORH established the State Designated Rural Health Center (SDRHC) Program. Through the establishment of SDRHC, ORH partners with local communities to provide funding to improve ability to serve underserved populations who would otherwise be unable to access needed primary and behavioral health 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.
SDRHC provides support for the patients who are not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or other affordable private insurance options. The plans cover in-house Primary and Behavioral Health services. Practices participating in PCAP/BHAP are expected to provide the services of a primary care “home” for their patients’ needs. This manual is intended to help practices understand how to administer both the PCAP and BHAP programs.