Governor Hochul Announces Availability of $2 Million to Boost Addiction Services in Fight Against Opioid Crisis

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State has secured $2 million in federal funding through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program to aid addiction service providers in the fight against the opioid crisis. The funding will be used to establish Mobile Medication Units (MMUs) to dispense medications to treat substance use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine. This follows the rules issued by the federal DEA to allow these units to be operated by existing Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Providers. These will be the first MMUs in New York State.

"Fighting the opioid crisis is a personal battle for me, and we will continue to do all that we can to boost resources and services for those struggling with addiction," Governor Hochul said. "These first-of-their-kind Mobile Medication Units in New York State will bring this important service directly to New Yorkers in need and allow them to receive critical services to support them on their road to recovery."

Providers that currently operate OASAS-certified OTP programs are eligible to receive funding and will be awarded up to $200,000 to be used to purchase and retrofit an MMU. These mobile units will offer services that include admission assessments and medication induction, medication administration and observation, toxicology tests, and other medical services.

These mobile units can help people facing barriers to treatment, including geographic proximity to OTP facilities and transportation issues, and increase the availability of medication assisted treatment for addiction. They will supplement already existing mobile services throughout New York State offered by other OASAS-certified providers, including assessment, counseling, medications other than methadone for addiction treatment, telepractice, and transportation services.

Funding will be awarded through an RFA process administered by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). The RFA is available to view here.

Applications are due on December 6th.

State Senator Pete Harckham said, "We know that people with Substance Use Disorder, especially those residing in rural areas of New York, do not always have access to modes of transportation or funds for travel to opioid treatment providers. With Governor Hochul securing the necessary funding for the state's first Mobile Medication Units, we will be bringing the means toward recovery to where those in need actually live statewide - and will save lives as a result."

Assemblymember Phil Steck said, "We are pleased that OASAS is making medically assisted treatment for opioid addiction more accessible in NY. Methadone is a longstanding scientific approach to combatting heroin addiction. Combatting this epidemic should be the highest priority for State government. MMUs are an important effort to meet that urgent need."

Over the past several years, New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the opioid epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, and recovery services. To combat this epidemic, the state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication assisted treatment, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state, and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at [email protected].