Senator Stabenow Announces over $50,000 to Expand Rural Opioid Treatment in Clare and Kalkaska Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced over $50,000 in new funding to improve access to quality opioid treatment through new telemedicine resources in Clare and Kalkaska counties. This new federal support will ensure patients can get the care they need without traveling long distances to seek treatment.

This investment comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine program in the 2018 Farm Bill, which Senator Stabenow co-authored.

“Families in rural Michigan have been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and face many barriers in getting treatment,” said Senator Stabenow. “Telemedicine uses state-of-the-art technology to help remove one of these barriers by allowing patients to get treatment closer to home.”

Ortele Health will receive $50,104 to install interactive video equipment at two locations in Clare and Kalkaska counties in Michigan to provide treatment for opioid addiction.