Sponsors (2)
The bill directs multiyear federal funding to expand and sustain evidence-based opioid and substance use disorder services in Secretary-defined rural areas, trading a modest increase in federal spending and administrative limits for improved rural treatment access and coordination.
People in Secretary-defined rural areas gain expanded access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for opioid and other substance use disorders through new grant-funded programs, increasing availability of local care.
States, tribal organizations, and rural health offices receive dedicated federal funding ($165M/year for FY2027–2031) to build coordinated local treatment networks and provide technical assistance, improving capacity and coordination of rural substance use services.
Grantees can obtain multi-year (up to five-year) awards and adopt evidence-based, sustainable care models, enabling longer-term program implementation, evaluation, and continuity of services.
Smaller or nontraditional community groups and nonprofit providers in rural areas may face administrative burdens and strong competition for grants, leaving some communities underserved.
Applicants generally cannot use grant funds to acquire or improve real property, which may limit clinics’ ability to expand physical treatment capacity in underserved areas.
Taxpayers bear increased federal spending of $165 million per year for five years to fund the program.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program and authorizes $165M annually (FY2027–2031) for grants to expand rural prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Official title: Amend the Public Health Service Act to maintain the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 3, 2026 by Shelley Moore Capito · Last progress August 3, 2026
Creates a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program at the Health Resources and Services Administration to fund prevention, treatment, recovery, and related behavioral public health activities in Secretary-defined rural areas. The Administrator may award grants or cooperative agreements to states, tribes, state rural health offices, and other domestic entities to plan, deliver services, provide technical assistance and evaluation, and respond to emerging issues, with restrictions on funding real property acquisition or improvement. Authorizes $165 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 to carry out the program; awards can run up to five years and may be funded fully at award. Applications must meet Administrator requirements and describe how rural populations are involved in planning and delivery.