KDSN RADIO News
MRHC Recovery Center Lands $500,000+ to Expand Opioid Treatment Across Four Counties
Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) announced its Recovery Center has been awarded more than $500,000 in Iowa opioid settlement funding through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment program. The funding will support a regional initiative designed to expand evidence-based opioid use disorder (OUD) services in Carroll, Crawford, Shelby, and Audubon counties.
“This investment allows us to reduce barriers that often prevent rural residents from getting timely, effective care,” said Shannon Black, CEO of MRHC. “It strengthens our ability to serve patients close to home while responding to a growing regional need.”
MRHC’s Recovery Center will use the award to strengthen the region’s continuum of care by expanding intake and outpatient services, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and chronic pain management. The initiative will also increase access for Crawford County residents through a partnership with Crawford County Public Health in Denison, which will provide on-site intake assessments and coordinated transportation to Manning for outpatient and MAT services.
The project includes establishing an integrated MAT clinic at MRHC and strengthening its multimodal chronic pain management program to reduce opioid reliance and improve outcomes. Funding will also support specialized staff training, program leadership, and long-term workforce recruitment and retention efforts.
“MAT is one of the most effective tools we have for treating opioid use disorder,” said Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Andersen, RN, BSN. “This funding allows us to integrate treatment, education, and care coordination so more people can access services and stay engaged in prevention and recovery.”
A key focus of the project is restoring local access for Crawford County residents following the closure of Denison’s former outpatient provider. Through its partnership with Crawford County Public Health, MRHC will offer onsite intake assessments in Denison and coordinated transportation to treatment services in Manning.
MRHC’s Recovery Center is uniquely positioned to serve medically complex patients, including high-risk pregnant women, thanks to access to 24/7 nursing, diagnostics, and emergency services. Patients also benefit from coordinated obstetric care through a partnership with Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, allowing individuals to remain in treatment during medically vulnerable stages of pregnancy.
“This support allows us to expand care while preserving the individualized, hospital-based approach that has defined the Recovery Center for more than four decades,” said Taya Vonnahme, Recovery Center Director. “By strengthening access, staffing, and coordination, we can better meet patients where they are and support lasting recovery.”
MRHC will continue working with regional partners—including county leaders, hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations—to reduce stigma, strengthen referral pathways, and improve access to care.
In addition to the opioid settlement funding, MRHC has applied for a Centers of Excellence designation through the state’s Healthy Hometown initiative under the Hometown Connections strategy. Award announcements are expected in mid-January, with contracts beginning in mid-February.
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