The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on April 7 that it is accepting applications for the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program through Thursday, April 30. The program is aimed at providers who are beginning or expanding opioid addiction treatment services.
The initiative seeks to address workforce shortages in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, which limit access to care for many residents. “Michigan has made great strides in reducing overdose deaths through significant investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “However, SUD workforce shortages can limit access to treatment. Through this program, we have been able to treat an additional 8,000 opioid use disorder clients and provide $3.7 million in loan repayment assistance to 202 providers.”
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 1.3 million Michigan residents need SUD treatment but are not receiving it. A needs assessment by MDHHS found that a shortage of qualified professionals is a major reason for this gap; Michigan currently ranks 40th nationally in the number of SUD counselors per adult with an SUD diagnosis.
Eligible applicants include doctors of medicine or osteopathy, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, case managers and SUD counselors who begin offering or expand existing opioid addiction treatments. Providers working across various health care settings may qualify for student loan repayments ranging from $15,000 to $30,000.
Funding comes from the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund. The state expects more than $1.8 billion from national opioid settlements by 2040; half will go directly to state government while the other half will be distributed among local governments throughout Michigan.
Applications must be submitted by April 30 via Michigan.gov/miota.
