Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
- Committees
- Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 14, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to increase access to opioid addiction treatment for uninsured and underinsured individuals through federal grants to states, with a focus on evidence-based practices and a 60-day treatment limit.
What it actually does
This bill authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to award grants to States. These grants are specifically for expanding access to evidence-based, clinically appropriate services for opioid abuse, dependence, or addiction. The services are targeted at individuals who lack health insurance or whose insurance presents barriers to treatment, and treatment is limited to 60 consecutive days per individual.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill directly addresses a critical gap in opioid addiction treatment by providing federal funding to states to help uninsured and underinsured individuals. They contend that by focusing on evidence-based practices like medication-assisted treatment and clinician-recommended care, the bill will effectively combat the opioid crisis and save lives, particularly for those who currently face significant financial barriers to accessing necessary services.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns about the 60-day treatment limit, arguing that it may be insufficient for sustained recovery from opioid addiction, which often requires longer-term care. Some may also question the overall cost to federal taxpayers without a specified funding offset, or argue that the program could create a new federal bureaucracy rather than empowering existing state and local solutions.
The bill text is concise and easy to read, allowing for a quick understanding of its provisions.
Section 2(a)
Grant Authorization for Opioid Addiction Treatment
This section authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, through the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, to provide grants to States. The purpose of these grants is to expand access to services that are clinically appropriate for treating opioid abuse, dependence, or addiction.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is essential for providing states with the resources needed to combat the opioid crisis effectively, directly enabling the expansion of crucial treatment infrastructure.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the general authorization of grants for opioid treatment, though concerns might arise regarding the scope or funding mechanisms.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the need for federal intervention in a public health crisis with state autonomy in program implementation.
Section 2(b)
Grant Requirements and Eligibility
This section sets out several conditions for States receiving grants. Services must be evidence-based, such as medication-assisted treatment, and follow a clinician's recommendation. Crucially, services are exclusively for individuals without health insurance or those whose insurance has significant barriers to coverage. Additionally, the grant cannot be used to pay for more than 60 consecutive days of treatment for any single individual.
Section 2(e)
Evaluation and Technical Assistance
This section requires the Assistant Secretary to mandate reporting from States on various outcome measures, including decreases in substance use, retention in care, connections to further care, and reductions in criminal justice involvement. The Assistant Secretary must also evaluate the grant activities, publicly disseminate the results, and offer technical assistance to States. Five percent of the appropriated funds are set aside for these evaluation and technical assistance activities.