$1 million grant to support opioid abuse recovery, education in rural areas

$1 million is now combating opioid abuse in rural areas of the Ozarks, thanks to a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The funding, secured by the CoxHealth Foundation, will be infused in the region in various ways. Some include:

- Expanding evidence-based educational programs to help educate youth about the dangers of opioid abuse and addiction.

- Certifying providers in rural areas to offer medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.

- Increasing the number of providers practicing in rural areas overall.

- Adding more resources for integrated treatment (such as additional resources at primary care offices) in rural areas.

- Expanding options for insurance reimbursement for treatment for those with opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD).

The grant will funnel through the Southwest Missouri Community Opioid Response Program (SMCORP), a collaboration of several health care and wellness organizations including CoxHealth, Cox Medical Center Branson, Cox Monett Hospital, Cox Barton County Hospital, Clark Community Mental Health Center, Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Burrell Behavioral Health, Ozark Center, PEEPs in Recovery, Preferred Family Healthcare, and Barton, Barry, Lawrence, Stone, and Taney County Health Departments.

In addition to a collaboration among consortium partners, SMCORP will also leverage larger health care systems and technology to bolster and sustain prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals, families, and caregivers impacted by OUD and substance use disorder SUD.

This project is supported by Award No. GA1RH33523 awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.