HHS awards grants to help states, territories combat opioid addiction

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday awarded $485 million in grants to help states and territories combat opioid addiction. The first of two funding rounds provided for in the 21st Century Cures Act, the grants “aim to increase access to treatment, reduce unmet need and reduce overdose related deaths,” HHS Secretary Tom Price said in a letter to governors, adding that he intends to seek their assistance to identify best practices and strategies before allocating the second round.