The purpose of this program is to provide funding to states to enhance/expand their treatment service systems to increase capacity and provide accessible, effective, comprehensive, coordinated care, and evidence-based medication assisted treatment (MAT) and recovery support services to individuals with opioid use disorders seeking or receiving MAT.  As a result of this program, SAMHSA seeks to: 1) increase the number of individuals receiving MAT services with pharmacotherapies approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorders; 2) increase the number of individuals receiving integrated care; and 3) decrease illicit drug use at 6-months follow-up. 

For the purpose of this RFA, integrated care is defined as the organized delivery and/or coordination of medical, behavioral or social and recovery support services provided to individual patients in order to produce better overall health outcomes for people that may have multiple healthcare needs.  MAT is defined as the use of FDA-approved opioid agonist medications (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine products including buprenorphine/naloxone combination formulations and buprenorphine mono-product formulations) for the maintenance treatment of opioid use disorder and opioid antagonist medication (e.g., naltrexone products including extended-release and oral formulations) to prevent relapse to opioid use.  MAT includes screening, assessment (which includes determination of severity of opioid use disorder, including presence of physical dependence and appropriateness for MAT) and case management.  MAT is to be provided in combination with comprehensive substance use disorder treatment, including but not limited to: counseling, behavioral therapies and when needed pharmacotherapy for co-occurring alcohol use disorder. MAT is to be provided in a clinically driven, person-centered and individualized setting.

Priority will be given to states (listed in Appendix V) that have not only demonstrated a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin and opioids per capita, but that have also demonstrated a dramatic increase in admissions in recent years. These states must include a statement confirming that their state has a rate of change for primary treatment admission for heroin and non-heroin opiates between the years 2007-2012 equal to or greater than 50 percent.  In order to receive priority, this documentation must be included in Attachment 5.

This program addresses SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative on Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness.