HRSA awards $400 million to combat opioid crisis

The Health Resources and Services Administration yesterday awarded 80 rural consortia $1 million each to help prevent, treat and support recovery for patients with opioid and other substance use disorders in underserved areas as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Another 12 organizations received $725,000 each to establish or expand medication-assisted treatment in eligible rural hospitals, clinics and tribal settings; and three organizations received $6.7 million each to create Centers of Excellence to identify, disseminate and implement evidence-based SUD programs and practices in rural communities. In addition, HRSA awarded about $200 million for community health centers to increase access to mental health and SUD services; and $87 million for academic institutions to train behavioral health professionals and paraprofessionals focused on SUDs.