The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative that addresses barriers to treatment for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD). It works toward the HHS goal of ending the opioid epidemic. RCORP is supported through HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
What Programs Are Part of RCORP?
RCORP has the following seven grant programs in HRSA-designated rural areas:
- Planning
- Implementation
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- Psychostimulant Support
- Behavioral Health Care Support
What SUD/OUD Resources Does RCORP Fund?
RCORP funds three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders. The Centers identify best practices for reducing SUD/OUD in rural communities. RCORP also provides a technical assistance portal with SUD/OUD resources. Additionally, RCORP supports four Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers in the Northern Border Regional Commission service area.
What Is Our Impact on Rural Communities?
We have invested over $500 million across over 1,500 counties since FY 2018
Who Can Apply for RCORP?
All domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including:
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Federally-recognized tribes
How Does Opioid Use Affect Rural Communities?
The opioid crisis has hit rural communities hard. Barriers to treatment and prevention services limit access to care.
The rate of deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential was 31% higher in rural counties (9.4) than in urban counties (7.2), and the rate of deaths involving natural and semisynthetic opioids was nearly 13% higher in rural counties (4.5) than in urban counties (4.0).
Learn how HRSA addresses the opioid crisis.
Subscribe to FORHP's weekly e-newsletter for RCORP news.
Learn how the National Health Service Corps is improving the health workforce in RCORP sites.
Contact Us
Questions about HRSA's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in rural communities? Email us at ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov.