{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Pence announces $167k grant for Grace Health &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"isR1he1t8T\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/pence-announces-167k-grant-for-grace-health\/\">Pence announces $167k grant for Grace Health<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/pence-announces-167k-grant-for-grace-health\/embed\/#?secret=isR1he1t8T\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Pence announces $167k grant for Grace Health&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"isR1he1t8T\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pence-with-Bevin-and-Rogers-2x.jpg","thumbnail_width":324,"thumbnail_height":354,"description":"A special visit by United States Vice President Mike Pence to the region last week brought with it a lot more than media attention. The Vice President was in Manchester Thursday along with Gov. Matt Bevin, Congressman Hal Rogers and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to highlight the military\u2019s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission command center and Operation Coal Country, which has provided much-needed no-cost medical, dental and vision care to Knox County residents last week. During his visit, the Vice President announced over $9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist in Kentucky\u2019s fight against opioid epidemic plaguing the region. Of that $9 million, $167,000 went to Corbin-based Grace Health. \u201cWe need health care across rural areas of America maybe now more than ever, because we are in the midst of fighting the deadliest drug crisis in the history of this country,\u201d said VP Pence, who went on to quote President Donald J. Trump, saying \u201cwe would do our best to\u2026 liberate our fellow Americans from the grip of drug addiction once and for all.\u201d In a statement from Grace Health, CEO Mike Stanley said \u201cWhen VP Pence, Governor Bevin, and I were shaking hands, VP Pence said he was amazed at all the services that Grace Health provided. I shared with him how God has blessed Grace Health beyond my imagination. I thanked him for the grant funding to further our integrated behavioral health services to combat the opioid epidemic.\u201d The financial boost to Grace Health will be used to increased mental health\/substance abuse disorder providers, staff and patient access, and according to the organization, the plan to hire a full-time Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and a full-time Behavioral Health Care Manager within two to three months of receiving the funding. The Vice President\u2019s announcements come on the heal of a Washington Post investigation that revealed how out-of-control the opioid pill issue is in southeastern Kentucky. The Washington Post\u2019s database of information from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration revealed that from 2006-2012, 13,943,639 pain pills were prescribed in Knox County, that\u2019s enough for 62 pain pills per person. Of those, the top five pharmacies filling opioid prescriptions during that time were Parkway Pharmacy &#8211; 3,298,960 pills, Hinkle Hometown Drug Store \u2013 2,889,920 pills, Rite Aid \u2013 1,848,620 pills, Knox Professional Pharmacy \u2013 1,776,869 pills, and Walgreens \u2013 1,376,100 pills. The top manufacturer of opioids sold in Knox County was Actavis Pharma Inc. with 9,711,400 pills. The top distributor of opioids to Knox County pharmacies was Smith Drug Company, with 4,046,050 pills. According to Knox Professional Pharmacy co-owner Cory Smith, opiates account for a very small fraction of their total prescription fills. \u201cIn 2018, our percentage of opiates (in all forms) filled was 0.04% of our total fills. I have not seen recent stats from 2018, but I feel confident in saying that this percentage is significantly lower than our county and state averages,\u201d said Smith. When asked what steps his pharmacy takes to help combat the opioid epidemic, Smith added \u201cWe feel that patient counseling and education is a crucial component of preventing opioid abuse and diversion from a community Pharmacist perspective. We make it a store policy to always counsel patients receiving opioids. We stress to these patients, especially after procedures, that opioids are only to be used as needed and for the shortest duration possible. We also educate patients on the side effects and the negative effects that can result if they are taken incorrectly (such as respiratory depression and dependence).\u201d Smith went on to say his staff is on the lookout for red flags when it comes to filling controlled prescriptions. \u201cSome of these \u201cred flags\u201d are cash paying patients (who have insurance), out of state prescriptions, and patient behavior. Although this is not a state or federal law, we refuse to fill narcotic and controlled prescriptions from out of state prescribers,\u201d he added. During his visit, the Vice President announced Kentucky has seen a 15 percent decline in fatal drug overdoses in 2018, and nationwide opioid prescriptions have dropped by 34 percent in the same timeframe."}