The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the availability of $195 million in a new funding opportunity for community health centers to expand access to mental health and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention and awareness of opioid abuse in all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia.
The awards are expected to be made in September of this year.
Health centers that receive an award will use the funds to increase the number of personnel dedicated to mental health and substance abuse services and to leverage health information technology and training to support the expansion of mental health and substance abuse services and their integration into primary care.
(MSNBC investigates the opioid epidemic that has gained more national attention and looks into what is being done to combat it. Courtesy of MSNBC and YouTube)
This funding will address two of HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D.’s highest priorities:
- To better address serious mental illness, and
- To fight the opioid epidemic
“Addressing serious mental illness across our nation and combating the opioid epidemic are two of the Department’s top priorities,” said Secretary Price.
“Integration is key to solving these challenges.”
“This funding will help our nation’s health centers provide that integration for mental health services and opioid addiction treatment.”
“Providing behavioral health care in a primary medical care setting reduces costs and leads to improved patient outcomes,” said Dr. George Sigounas, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
“This is especially true when it comes to substance abuse, including opioid addiction.”
HRSA’s Health Center Program provides funding to community-based health care providers in underserved areas.
Nearly 1,400 community health centers operate at more than 10,400 sites, providing care to over 24 million people across the nation, in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin.
Today, health centers employ nearly 190,000 people. With this new funding opportunity, health centers will be able to increase personnel to help expand access to mental health services and substance abuse services.
(HHS Innovation Day featured presentations on how new approaches and creative thinking can improve how HHS delivers on its mission to serve the American People. The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) at the US Department of Health and Human Services hosted this event on May 15, 2017. Courtesy of HHS and YouTube)
Overview
The purpose of the FY 2017 Access Increases in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (AIMS) supplemental funding opportunity is to expand access to mental health services, and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse.
Health centers will enhance these services by increasing personnel.
They will also leverage health information technology (IT) and provide training to support the expansion of mental health services, and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse, and their integration into primary care.
HRSA will award approximately $195 million in AIMS funding to eligible health centers.
(The U.S. secretary of health and human services met Wednesday with officials in New Hampshire to learn firsthand about the state opioid epidemic. Courtesy of WMUR-TV and YouTube. Posted on May 10, 2017)
The AIMS instructions provide funding details.
Applications for the Access Increases for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (AIMS) award are due July 26, 2017.
Additionally, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is making $3 million available to expand opioid-related healthcare services in rural communities.
The grants will support up to 12 grantees for three years. Applications for the FORHP program are due July 21, 2017.
The Trump Administration and Secretary Price have identified the opioid crisis as one of the top priorities for improving the health of the American people.
(Trump Tackles Opioid Addiction Crisis: ‘This Is a Total Epidemic’. Courtesy of CBN News and YouTube. Posted on March 30, 2017)
HHS has outlined five specific strategies to combat the ongoing opioid crisis:
- Improving access to treatment and recovery services
- Targeting availability and distribution of overdose-reversing drugs
- Strengthening timely public health data and reporting
- Supporting cutting-edge research, and
- Advancing the practice of pain management
Overview
The purpose of the FY 2017 Access Increases in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (AIMS) supplemental funding opportunity is to expand access to mental health services, and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse.
Health centers will enhance these services by increasing personnel.
They will also leverage health information technology (IT) and provide training to support the expansion of mental health services, and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse, and their integration into primary care.
HRSA will award approximately $195 million in AIMS funding to eligible health centers. The AIMS instructions provide funding details.
Who Can Apply
Organizations receiving Health Center Program operational grant funding at the time of the AIMS funding opportunity release are eligible to apply for AIMS funding.
Eligible health centers were notified through the HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHB) email sent on June 26, 2017.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via EHB. There is no Grants.gov submission required for the AIMS application.
Applications are due in EHB by 5:00 PM EDT on July 26, 2017.
Schedule of EHB Notifications to eligible health centers:
- June 26, 2017: Notification and links to access the AIMS instructions and technical assistance resources for proposal development.
- June 30, 2017: Notification that the application is open in EHB with a unique link to the complete the application.
Application Components
Beginning June 30, 2017, applicants may enter required information into the EHB application module.
The samples below are for demonstration and application planning purposes only.
Applicants may use the samples to develop their proposals and transfer the information to the corresponding EHB section when the application module opens.
- SF-424A Budget Information Form PDF (120 KB) | Word (68 KB)
- Federal Budget Information Table Form PDF (198 KB) | Word (63 KB)
- Federal Object Class Categories Form PDF (129 KB) | Word (67 KB)
- Budget Narrative PDF (152 KB) | Word (47 KB)
- Staffing Impact Form PDF (157 KB) | Word (59 KB)
- Patient Impact Form PDF (211 KB) | Word (63 KB)
- Project Narrative Form PDF (101 KB) | Word (58 KB)
- Equipment List Form PDF (157 KB) | Word (67 KB)
Technical Assistance Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- EHB Application User Guide – Coming Soon
- Health Center Program Support Networks (PCAs, NCAs, and HCCNs)
- The Health IT Resources and Tools List
- Scope of Project Resources and Information (including details on Form 5A)
- Uniform Data System (UDS) Resources
Clinical Resources:
- BPHC Behavioral Health Integration Resources for Health Centers
- Substance Use Warmline
- SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions
- SAMHSA Providers’ Clinical Support System for Opioid Therapies and Medication-Assisted Treatment Training
- NIH Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee National Pain Strategy
- CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
- CMS Resources on Reducing Substance Use Disorders
- American Society of Addiction Medicine National Practice Guideline for the Use of Medications in the Treatment of Addiction Involving Opioid Use
For more information about the AIMS award, visit: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/supplement/
To learn more about HRSA’s Health Center Program, visit: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about
To find a health center in your area, visit: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
More information about the FORHP program and instructions for applicants can be found under Funding Opportunities at: https://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/
For more information on FORHP’s rural programs, visit: http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/index.html
