More than 70 Texas health institutions have received almost $18 million in federal funds to combat the ongoing nationwide opioid epidemic.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the funds to 74 Texas community centers, physicians, rural organizations, and academic institutions to help establish and expand access to substance-use disorder and mental health services. HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The funds were part of almost $400 million awarded to HRSA-funded facilities nationwide.
“Health centers and behavioral health providers are on the front lines of the fight against the opioid crisis and substance abuse, especially in rural communities,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. “With our evidence-based strategy, HHS is working to support local communities in fighting back against substance abuse, and our united efforts are yielding results.”
In Texas, 65 health centers received a total of $10.8 million in 2019 Integrated Behavioral Health Services Awards. Recipients included clinics, hospitals, and agencies throughout the state.
In addition, these Texas facilities received awards through several HRSA initiatives:
Four Texas academic institutions received a total of $1.6 million in Graduate Psychology Education Program funding for graduate programs in behavioral health practice to train psychologists to work with underserved populations.
More information about opioid-use disorder in Texas, including one-pagers, guidelines, and the latest news can be found on the Texas Medical Association’s Opioid Resources page.
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Last Updated On
August 12, 2019
Originally Published On
August 12, 2019