Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Medication Assisted Treatment Access | HRSA 22 165

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 22 165

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access opportunity is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), designed to help rural communities reduce illness and death tied to substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorder (OUD). The central focus is expanding both access to and the quality of medication-assisted treatment in rural areas by creating new points of access for MAT and strengthening the local capacity needed to deliver MAT services reliably over time. While the program is primarily aimed at treating OUD, HRSA also encourages grantees to address alcohol use disorder (AUD) with MAT when there is a demonstrated community need.

This is a multi-year initiative with a three-year period of performance. Across that timeframe, funded projects are expected to implement a coordinated set of activities aligned with four main goals. First, recipients should establish new MAT access points in rural communities that provide not only FDA-approved medications but also supportive services, such as counseling and behavioral therapies, reflecting HRSA's whole-person approach to treatment. Second, projects must strengthen the MAT workforce by recruiting and training clinicians and support staff and by building peer mentorship networks that help providers sustain and improve care. Third, awardees are expected to build community capacity and infrastructure so MAT services can be delivered more effectively and efficiently, which often means improving coordination among healthcare, behavioral health, and community partners. Fourth, the program emphasizes sustainability, pushing recipients to improve billing and coding practices and to help eligible patients enroll in health insurance so services can continue after grant funding ends.

HRSA defines "MAT access" broadly, not just as whether a clinic exists, but whether treatment is affordable, accessible, acceptable to patients, and available when needed. Eligibility for the rural service area is tied to HRSA's Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, meaning applicants must be prepared to demonstrate that their target communities meet HRSA's rural definition for this program. MAT itself is defined in the standard evidence-based way: use of FDA-approved medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders, including OUD and, when appropriate, AUD.

The target population includes rural residents across the spectrum of risk and need: people at risk for OUD and/or AUD, people diagnosed with OUD and/or AUD, and people who are currently in treatment or in recovery. The program also explicitly includes families and caregivers, along with other impacted community members who live within the rural target service area, recognizing that substance use disorders affect more than just the individual patient. Applicants are encouraged to intentionally include groups that historically experience worse health outcomes and systemic inequities, such as racial and ethnic minorities, pregnant people, adolescents and youth, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, people with low incomes, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.912 with the funding opportunity number HRSA-22-165. HRSA anticipated making about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000. Eligible applicants are broad and include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other entities as further clarified in the opportunity's eligibility section. The notice was created June 13, 2022, and originally closed July 29, 2022, indicating this specific posting is tied to that application cycle, even though the RCORP initiative itself is ongoing across multiple years and program components.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Medication Assisted Treatment Access" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 13, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 22 165

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: