HHS renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to address national opioid crisis
Author
Blaire Bryant
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On March 18, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the direction of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. renewed the public health emergency (PHE) declaration to address the ongoing opioid crisis, extending critical federal support for coordination, treatment expansion and research efforts. While overdose deaths have declined by 25.5 percent over the past year, synthetic opioids like fentanyl continue to drive fatalities, with approximately 150 Americans dying daily from overdoses.
Importance
The Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration, issued under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (Pub. L. 78–410), grants the HHS Secretary expanded authority to respond to public health crises such as disease outbreaks, bioterrorist attacks and the opioid epidemic. It lasts for 90 days but can be extended as needed.
Key actions enabled by the declaration include:
- Funding and Resource Allocation – Grants access to emergency funds; enables rapid response measures; and facilitates coordination across federal, state and local agencies.
- Regulatory Flexibility – Allows waivers for Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other healthcare regulations to ensure continued care delivery.
- Support for Research and Treatment – Accelerates medical countermeasure development, supports substance use disorder treatment expansion and enhances public health data collection.
- Emergency Workforce and Liability Protections – Permits temporary hiring of personnel, reassigns state and local public health staff and limits liability for healthcare volunteers.
- Supply Chain and Telehealth Adjustments – Eases restrictions on drug distribution, modifies telemedicine rules and grants states access to federal supply schedules.
The renewed declaration, originally issued in 2017, allows HHS to sustain key flexibilities, such as expediting substance use disorder treatment programs and enhancing public-private collaboration.
Impact on counties
Counties are essential in managing public health emergencies as owners and operators of systems like emergency rooms, crisis stabilization units, behavioral health facilities and jails, all of which play a critical role in opioid crisis management, addiction treatment and recovery services.
Extending the PHE declaration allows counties to continue partnering across all levels of government to sustain progress in prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, saving lives and easing the burden on local healthcare and criminal justice systems.
Featured Initiative
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Michelle Alyssa Go Act reintroduced in the 119th Congress, a critical step for county behavioral health systems
On September 18, the Michelle Alyssa Go Act (H.R. 5462) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation aims to increase the number of federal Medicaid-eligible in-patient psychiatric beds from 16 to 36, providing critical support for individuals seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
CMS releases Rural Health Transformation Program funding opportunity
On September 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released additional details on the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, overviewing program goals, requirements and timelines.
MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention
On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.
Counties encouraged to apply for newly established HHS Healthcare Advisory Committee
On August 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the creation of a new Healthcare Advisory Committee, aimed at providing expert guidance on pressing healthcare challenges. This new committee represents an important opportunity for counties to have a voice in shaping federal healthcare policy.
Engaging people with ‘lived experience’ helps build substance use disorder programming
Philadelphia’s Keli McLoyd noted to NACo's Health Steering Committee that increased harm reduction initiatives have led to fewer drug overdose deaths.
CMS announces grant awards to improve the continuity of care for justice-involved individuals
On September 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced $106.5 million in state planning grants aimed at improving healthcare continuity for individuals transitioning from incarceration.
Innovative Health Plan Strategies for County Governments
Please join Craig Ulrich, Surest Key Account Executive with United Healthcare, to explore alternative health plan approaches that prioritize price transparency and promote the use of high-value providers, including models like the Surest Health Plan.
Public Education Strategies to Tackle County Challenges: Mental Health, Workforce, and Gun Violence
Join us for an insightful webinar with the Ad Council as they share their best practices on leveraging public education to help counties tackle three urgent challenges: the mental health crisis, workforce development, and gun violence prevention.
Putting Communities First: How Counties Leverage Tech to Improve Behavioral Health
In this webinar, we’ll explore how counties can harness behavioral health empower providers and community stakeholders to help streamline care collaboration and improve outcomes for the communities they serve.