$31M grant to combat opioid crisis 'welcome news,' says McConnell

WASHINGTON (KT) – U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said a $31.47 million federal grant is “welcome news” for Kentucky in its fight against the opioid epidemic.

McConnell announced Thursday the state will receive a portion of the $1 billion approved by Congress earlier this year for the State Opioid Response Grants Program. Legislators appropriated a total of $4.6 billion to continue combating the pressing crisis as part of the 21st Century CURES Act, passed by Congress in 2016.

“The funding provided to Kentucky under this grant program is welcome news and will be put to good use in helping to fight the opioid epidemic,” said McConnell, who helped shepherd the CURES Act through the Senate.

He pushed to ensure funding would be focused on states with the highest mortality rate related to opioid use disorders, such as Kentucky.

“The CURES Act is bolstering medical innovation by promoting critical investments in research and treatment development,” McConnell said. “It also is putting patients first and strengthening the kind of research and treatments needed to cure the most devastating diseases.”

Twenty community centers in Kentucky are expected to receive about $5.6 million in Health and Human Services funding to support the nationwide Five Point Opioid Strategy. They are:

Audubon Area Community Care Clinic, Inc., Owensboro$249,942

Big Sandy Health Care, Inc., Prestonsburg$285,000

Community Health Centers of Western Ky., Inc., Greenville$175,313

Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc., Burkesville$285,500

Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond$305,420

Family Health Centers, Inc., Louisville$285,000

Grace Community Health Center, Inc., Corbin$285,000

Health Help, Incorporated, McKee$285,000

HealthFirst Bluegrass, Inc., Lexington$285,000

Juniper Health, Inc., Beattyville$285,000

Kentucky Mountain Health Alliance, Inc., Hazard$285,000

Ky. River Foothills Development Council, Inc., Richmond$285,000

Lewis County Primary Care Center, Inc., Vanceburg$285,000

Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, Inc., Prestonsburg$285,000

Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Whitesburg$293,538

Pennyroyal Healthcare Service Inc., Princeton$285,000

Regional Health Care Affiliates, Inc., Providence$285,000

Shawnee Christian Healthcare Center, Inc., Louisville$285,000

Sterling Health Solutions, Inc., Mount Sterling$294,250

Triad Health System Inc Warsaw

In the announcement, McConnell applauded the Trump Administration for its effort to combat the opioid crisis in Kentucky and around the nation.