An appropriations bill released Tuesday includes $3.7 billion to help treat the opioid crisis.
The bill would fund the Department of Health and Human Services and several other agencies for fiscal 2019. It follows $3.3 billion that was added to a March spending bill that funds the federal government through September.
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that focuses on HHS, said the bill provides flexible funding for states.
“This bill directs resources to the hardest-hit states and rural communities, which are affected [by the opioid crisis] at a higher rate than urban or suburban areas,” Blunt said.
A large majority of the funding, $1.5 billion, would go to states through grants. The funding would replace $500 million in expiring funding from the 21st Century Cures Act, which was passed in late 2016.
Another $476 million would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for opioid overdose prevention and surveillance, including a public awareness campaign.
Community health centers would receive $200 million to support and enhance services for substance abuse and mental health.
