Committee Republicans ask GAO to review status of opioid grant funding

Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and other Republicans on the committee last week asked the Government Accountability Office to review how the Department of Health and Human Services has used grant funding to address the opioid crisis, how much remains unspent, and why. They also asked GAO to review the agency’s processes for soliciting grant proposals and assessing funding results. “Congress has authorized billions of dollars to address this crisis, but even we cannot adequately track where and how the funds were used in many cases,” the letter states. Referring to the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act of 2018, the authors wrote, “As part of its mission to lead public health efforts to reduce the effects of substance abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is responsible for overseeing a significant portion of the grant funding provided through this legislation.”