The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced a new round of funding aimed at mitigating the impact of the opioid epidemic in rural communities. The HRSA will allocate $50 million to a program designed to provide recovery and treatment services to regions not located near an urban area.
"This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of all Americans," said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. "The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that people have access to lifesaving care when and where they need it. HRSA’s Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery Initiative continues to put people at the center of their care, by lowering barriers to accessing treatment and growing a workforce prepared to meet people where they are in their journey of recovery."
According to an HHS news release, the HRSA’s Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery Initiative will receive funds that include providing buprenorphine and other medications to individuals seeking treatment for opioid use. Treating users on narcotics can be particularly challenging for rural areas due to transportation barriers, limited health providers with substance experience, and regional isolation.
"Treatment works and recovery is possible," said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. "That is why our new HRSA Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery Initiative prioritizes building and expanding access to opioid use disorder treatment and recovery services in rural communities. We know for these efforts to succeed we need not only create more rural access to medications for treating opioid use disorder but also expand support for the rural substance use disorder workforce, increase recovery supports, transportation, employment, and other vital services that make recovery possible. Our initiative offers this comprehensive approach to helping meet rural communities’ needs and creating pathways to recovery."
Approximately 800 rural community officials met with the HRSA this week in an effort to discuss the health infrastructure needed to mitigate opioid use within their communities, according to the news release. A portion of the funding will also enable applicants to enhance employment training and housing services.
