Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act

To strengthen resources to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic in rural communities across America. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act 2. Distance learning and telemedicine Section 2333(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2(c) (5) Substance use disorder treatment services (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make available not less than 20 percent of amounts made available under section 2335A for financial assistance under this chapter for substance use disorder treatment services. (B) Exception In the case of a fiscal year for which the Secretary determines that there are not sufficient qualified applicants to receive financial assistance for substance use disorder treatment services to reach the 20-percent requirement under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may make available less than 20 percent of amounts made available under section 2335A for those services. . 3. Community facilities direct loans and grants Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1926(a) (27) Direct loans and grants for substance use disorder treatment services (A) Selection priority In selecting recipients of loans or grants (not including loans guaranteed by the Secretary) for the development of essential community facilities under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to entities eligible for those loans or grants— (i) to develop facilities to provide substance use disorder (including opioid substance use disorder)— (I) prevention services; (II) treatment services; (III) recovery services; or (IV) any combination of those services; and (ii) that employ staff that have appropriate expertise and training in how to identify and treat individuals with substance use disorders. (B) Use of funds An eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) that receives a loan or grant described in that subparagraph may use the loan or grant funds for the development of telemedicine facilities and systems to provide telemedicine for substance use disorder treatment. . 4. Rural health and safety education programs (a) In general Section 502(i) of the Rural Development Act of 1972 ( 7 U.S.C. 2662(i) (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Substance use disorder education and prevention In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an applicant that will use the grant for substance use disorder education and treatment and the prevention of substance use disorder. . (b) Technical amendments Title V of the Rural Development Act of 1972 ( 7 U.S.C. 2661 (1) in section 502, in the matter preceding subsection (a), by inserting (referred to in this title as the Secretary Agriculture (2) by striking Secretary of Agriculture Secretary

Summary: Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide financial assistance for the construction of facilities and systems in rural areas for substance-use disorder services. In selecting recipients of loans and grants to establish community facilities, USDA must give priority to developers of facilities that: (1) provide substance use disorder prevention, treatment, or recovery services; and (2) employ staff with expertise and training in identifying and treating individuals with substance-use disorders. In providing grants to establish individual and family health education programs, USDA must give priority to entities intending to use the funds for substance-use disorder education, treatment, and prevention.