HHS awards $25M to combat rural opioid crisis

Eighty organizations in 36 states and two territories, including some hospitals and health systems, will receive close to $25 million in grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, the Department of Health and Human Services yesterday announced.

According to HHS, nearly $15 million will go to 30 recipients to reduce neonatal abstinence syndrome by improving care, family supports and factors related to social determinants of health; each will receive $500,000 over three years through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

In addition, $10 million will go to 50 recipients to strengthen and expand substance use and opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services, funded through Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning.