FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 7, 2026

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Trump Administration Announces More Than $17 Million for New Mental Health Clinics, Mobile Crisis Teams, and Expanded Addiction Treatment in North Carolina

This federal investment will bring crisis support directly to children and families and improve access to addiction and maternal mental health care across rural North Carolina

Today, the Trump Administration announced more than $17 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to expand mental health and substance use disorder services for North Carolina’s rural residents. The funding will support new behavioral health clinics, opioid treatment access, crisis response, early intervention, and perinatal behavioral healthcare across rural communities.

This transformational funding will deliver $4 million for three new mental health clinics; $3 million to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder through stationary medication units in five counties; and $4 million to send mobile crisis teams to six additional counties, bringing in-home support directly to children and families in crisis for up to eight weeks to help kids stay with their families and reduce hospital or residential placements. An additional $6.7 million will help young people get early support when they first start experiencing serious mental health symptoms, build regional partnerships so communities can respond faster to crisis, and give new and expecting mothers in underserved areas better access to mental health care.

The Rural Health Transformation Program is expanding access to quality healthcare, regardless of a patient’s zip code, and equipping first responders with the lifesaving resources they need when every second counts. This funding will make critical investments to strengthen rural healthcare, expand access to lifesaving services, and bring modern technology to communities across North Carolina.

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

“President Trump gave states the resources to transform rural healthcare, and now we’re seeing those dollars move from plans into action,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Our focus now is on making sure this early progress translates into lasting results for rural patients and more resilient, sustainable health systems in the years ahead. In North Carolina, that means children and families in crisis get faster access to care, and rural providers have the tools to meet urgent behavioral health needs close to home.”

Today’s investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats — delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.

“The opioid crisis has devastated communities across our country, especially rural areas where treatment and health care resources are often limited. North Carolina is no exception, and our state will greatly benefit from additional funding to expand access to behavioral and whole-person health care, help break the cycle of substance abuse, and provide critical support for new and expecting mothers,” said Sen. Ted Budd.

“Rural communities across North Carolina deserve access to the same quality behavioral health and substance use treatment available in our larger cities,” said Rep. Greg Murphy. “These investments will expand access to mental health care, treatment for opioid use disorder, crisis services, and other critical resources for patients and families who too often face barriers to care. As a physician and a representative of rural Eastern North Carolina, I know how important it is to bring care closer to home. I am proud to support investments that strengthen our rural health system and ensure North Carolinians struggling with mental health or addiction have access to the care they need.”

“North Carolinians deserve access to high-quality mental health and substance use services, no matter where they live in the state,” said Rep. Addison McDowell. “Republicans in Congress fought to deliver real resources for rural communities through the Working Families Tax Cuts and the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I’m proud this nearly $17 million investment will help expand access to the behavioral health care and treatment rural families need closer to home.”

“Made possible by House Republicans and President Trump, the Rural Health Transformation Program is strengthening and modernizing health care in rural communities across the country. I am incredibly proud to see nearly $17 million going toward improving mental health and substance use services across my home state of North Carolina. As rural communities continue to battle the opioid crisis, this investment will expand access to treatment and crisis services, support recovery, and help more North Carolinians get the care they need close to home,” said Rep. Mark Harris.

“Rural healthcare shortages are difficult enough when you need a primary care doctor. When someone is dealing with addiction or a mental health crisis, waiting weeks for an appointment or driving an hour for treatment can turn a serious problem into an emergency. This nearly $17 million investment expands crisis care, opioid treatment, specialty services, and support for new mothers where those resources are hardest to find. If we can get people effective care earlier and closer to home, we can save lives and take enormous pressure off families, hospitals, and first responders,” said Rep. Pat Harrigan.

“I voted for H.R. 1 because rural communities deserve access to quality health care, and that starts with making sure our providers have the tools they need,” said Rep. Chuck Edwards. “This funding will help expand mental health and substance use services and give rural providers access to technology that can improve the way they deliver care. This is an important investment in rural North Carolina and the patients who call these communities home.”

“Republicans fought for the Rural Health Transformation fund, and it’s delivering tangible results to our rural communities. Every Democrat in Congress voted against it. $17 million is coming to North Carolina to win the fight against substance abuse and to improve mental health services. Our rural communities deserve quality care. This is an important step to deliver it,” said Rep. Brad Knott.

“North Carolinians deserve access to quality mental health and behavioral health services regardless of where they live,” said Rep. Tim Moore. “This nearly $17 million investment will expand access to treatment and crisis services in rural communities across our state. I’m glad to see these resources going directly to the people who need them most.”

Today’s announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to North Carolina for fiscal year 2026.

Key initiatives the overall RHTP funding will focus on include: 

• Building the rural healthcare workforce: Supporting recruitment, training, and retention strategies to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving rural communities.
  
  
• Strengthening rural facilities and access: Supporting partnerships, operational improvements, and care-delivery changes that help rural providers maintain essential services and improve access.
  
  
• Advancing innovative care and payment models: Supporting new approaches to delivery and financing designed to improve quality, strengthen primary care, and support sustainable rural healthcare.
  
  
• Expanding community-based and preventive care: Investing in school-based care, mobile services, and other community strategies that improve prevention, address chronic disease, and expand access to care.
  
  
• Modernizing rural healthcare technology: Expanding remote care and data-driven tools to improve coordination and extend healthcare services to rural communities.

The Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize technology to promote health and well-being for rural communities. Led by CMS, the RHTP is moving beyond the failed one-size-fits-all approach and giving rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.

For more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.

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