HHS to award $70 million in grants to combat the opioid crisis

HHS recently made available $70 million in grants to help healthcare providers and communities address the opioid crisis. The grants are intended to help prevent opioid deaths and provide treatment for opioid users.

HHS has allotted $28 million of the grant money for medication-assisted treatment, which includes both therapy and medications approved for treating opioid use disorders. Five grantees will be awarded a portion of the $28 million. HHS has dedicated $41.7 million to help approximately 30 grantees train first responders over four years. Up to $1 million will be awarded to one grantee over five years to help with improving access to overdose treatment and expanding the availability of overdose reversal medication in healthcare settings.

Information on funding opportunities and grant applications for can be found on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.

Case managers are increasingly called upon to manage the care of patients who come to hospitals for substance abuse disorders. Scarce resources and the complex needs of these patients make helping patients with opioid addictions a challenge. Not only do case managers need to manage the challenges and social issues that go along with addiction, such as homelessness and lack of family connections, but they may also struggle to find placements for patients. See Case Management Monthly for more information on how to help patients struggling with opioid addiction.