ICYMI: Federal Funds to Fight Substance Abuse Headed to Salem Health Center

Salem, MA - A Salem-based health center is one of 20 health centers across the state to get federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help fight the heroin and opioid epidemic.

The North Shore Community Health Center received $352,083 in Affordable Care Act funding for substance abuse services.

On Friday, HHS announced announced $94 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 271 health centers in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to improve and expand the delivery of substance abuse services in health centers, with a specific focus on treatment of opioid use disorders in underserved populations.

In Massachusetts, 20 health centers across the state received funding totaling just over $6.8 million.

“The opioid epidemic is one of the most pressing public health issues in the United States today,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment and integrating these services in health centers bolsters nationwide efforts to curb opioid misuse and abuse, supports approximately 124,000 new patients accessing substance use treatment for recovery and helps save lives.”

The North Shore Community Health Center

Administered by the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), these awards to health centers across the country will increase the number of patients screened for substance use disorders and connected to treatment, increase the number of patients with access to MAT for opioid use and other substance use disorder treatment, and provide training and educational resources to help health professionals make informed prescribing decisions. This $94 million investment is expected to help awardees hire approximately 800 providers to treat nearly 124,000 new patients.

“Health centers treat some of the most at-risk patients in the country,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae. “These awards position health centers to be at the forefront of the fight against opioid abuse in underserved communities.”