WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVVA) – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Authorization Act — legislation designed to formally authorize and strengthen the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, or RCORP. The bill, which amends the Public Health Service Act, aims to ensure continued funding and support for prevention, treatment and recovery services in rural communities across the country.
Why this matters
Rural communities continue to face unique barriers in addressing opioid use disorder, from limited treatment options to workforce shortages. RCORP has provided targeted grant funding that helps fill those gaps by supporting local providers, expanding access to medication-assisted treatment, funding prevention initiatives, and building recovery infrastructure. Formal authorization would stabilize the program’s federal standing and make it easier for rural providers to plan long-term services for their communities.
A bipartisan push
Rep. Miller called the bill a top priority for rural districts that lack reliable access to behavioral health and addiction services.
Supporting communities battling addiction remains one of my highest priorities. Representing a rural district, I know how critical it is for families to have reliable access to quality health care and recovery services.
RCORP delivers essential funding to rural areas that lack the resources needed to address substance use disorders, and formally authorizing this program provides stability for the providers doing this lifesaving work.
Democratic co-sponsor Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) emphasized the lifesaving impact of accessible treatment.
For the millions of Americans battling substance use disorder, having access to proven, affordable treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
The RCORP program is critical in bringing those lifesaving services to our rural communities.”
Other co-sponsors highlighted the bipartisan, practical nature of the legislation. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) noted that opioid addiction does not discriminate by age, income or political party, and said bipartisan solutions like RCORP help save lives and support people in recovery. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), a pharmacist, described authorizing RCORP as a personal and professional priority given the barriers rural districts face in securing treatment and recovery services.
Support from rural health groups
National rural health organizations welcomed the bill. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, praised the effort, calling RCORP “the only opioid grant program targeted exclusively to rural populations” and noting its role in “alleviating access gaps by establishing and expanding prevention, treatment and recovery services.” Tammy Norville, CEO of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, said the bill would solidify RCORP’s standing before Congress and expressed readiness to work with lawmakers to advance the bipartisan measure.
What the bill would do
The RCORP Authorization Act amends the Public Health Service Act to formally authorize the RCORP grant program. Authorization gives the program a clear statutory footing, which can help secure multi-year planning, encourage sustained funding, and improve coordination with state and local partners. While authorization does not by itself appropriate new funds, it is a key step for program continuity and for advocating annual appropriations that match rural needs.
Implications for communities
If enacted, the authorization could make it easier for rural hospitals, health centers, and community organizations to plan expanded services, recruit providers, and partner on prevention and recovery initiatives. For many rural counties where transportation, stigma and workforce shortages have limited treatment access, a steady RCORP program means more consistent help for residents battling opioid use disorder.
What’s next
The bill was filed with bipartisan support and advocates are urging congressional committees to move it quickly. Stakeholders including rural health associations and state rural health offices plan to engage with committee members and appropriators to press for both authorization and sustained funding.
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