Pennsylvania announces new grant recipients to fight opioid epidemic

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration announced new grant recipients to fight the opioid addiction epidemic.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the latest Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication Assisted Treatment (PacMAT) grant recipients would build medication-assisted treatment programs for uninsured, underinsured or privately insured residents who suffer from addiction.

These grants were awarded to Lehigh Valley Health Network; Penn Medicine — Lancaster General Health; and Reading Hospital — Tower Health.

The grant is funded through the State Opioid Response efforts received by the Wolf administration. The grant is meant to combat the substance use epidemic by increasing access to treatment and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths, health officials said.

“Our medication-assisted treatment facilities are on the front lines of working to make sure those suffering from the disease of addiction get the assistance they need to recover,” Levine said. “Through the ‘hub and spoke’ model, the primary care physicians within these health systems will have the support they need to prescribe medication-assisted treatment to their patients. Their efforts will help ensure that access is available to residents in several counties afflicted by this disease.”

The Opioid Command Center released its strategic plan earlier this month. The plan touts the commonwealth’s accomplishments in its fight against the opioid epidemic and provides guidance for continuing to help those with substance use disorder. It highlights goal areas, including prevention, rescue, treatment, recovery and sustainability.

For more information regarding the opioid crisis, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.