USDA Prioritizes Investments in Telemedicine to Address Opioid Crisis

The Department of Agriculture is giving funding priority in a key grant program for applications to address opioid misuse in rural communities.  USDA may award up to 30 special consideration points for Distance Learning and Telemedicine program applications for projects that provide opioid treatment services in 220 at-risk counties identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2019.

Outgoing Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett said the focused investment targets USDA resources “to be a strong partner to rural communities.”

Last week, the Trump administration announced that Hazlett would move to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to serve as a senior adviser for rural affairs, furthering the administration focus on addressing the opioid crisis.

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