On Tuesday morning the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled $74.5 million of new grant awards to support substance use disorder, maternal and hospital care services in rural areas.

The bulk of the money—$53.7 million over four years by way of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—will be doled out to 18 organizations in 14 states working to improve access to treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder and opioid use disorder, the administration said.

Those funds will build upon or create new access points for treatment in collaboration with the local behavioral health workforce and social services.

Also receiving $11.8 million over three years Duluth, Minnesota-based the Rural Health Resource Center, a nonprofit that says it’s provided technical assistance to over 500 rural health groups since 1997.

Specifically, those funds will back a “Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program” HHS said will support “technical assistance to rural hospitals to help them add or expand healthcare services to meet community need, keep care close to home for their patients, and ultimately improve financial sustainability for these facilities so they can stay open.”

Finally, about $9 million will be distributed over four years to five recipients in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The organizations are tasked with coordinating and expanding access to perinatal care services.

“The Biden-Harris Administration believes healthcare should be available to everyone regardless of where they live. That’s why we are investing heavily in rural communities, which have historically lacked resources and access to health services” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in his department’s announcement. “The awards announced today support rural hospitals and address acute challenges related to substance use and maternal health.”

Tuesday’s awards target pain points threatening rural Americans’ access to care, such as the dire financial hurdles rural hospitals face or maternity care deserts.  The administration also noted prior efforts targeting these underserved populations, such as boosted loan forgiveness for providers practicing in rural areas.

Across 2023, HRSA and its Federal Office of Rural Health Policy funded almost $328 million in grants.

“We are taking action to deliver for rural families by supporting high-quality substance use disorder treatment and maternal health services in rural communities, and by helping rural hospitals continue to serve their communities,” HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said in the Tuesday announcement.