HHS unveiled $195 million in funding to help community health centers nationwide combat the opioid epidemic.
Selected health centers will use their funding — provided through Access Increases in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services grants — to improve health IT and increase staff. The goal is to expand mental health and substance abuse treatment, prevention and awareness and potentially integrate these services into primary care.
"Addressing serious mental illness across our nation and combating the opioid epidemic are two of the Department's top priorities," said HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD. "Integration is key to solving these challenges. This funding will help our nation's health centers provide that integration for mental health services and opioid addiction treatment."
The Health Resources and Services Administration will select health centers for grant funding in September. Qualifying health centers must apply by July 26.
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