New Reporting Tool for State Opioid Response Grants: What States Need to Know

Since 2017, states receiving State Opioid Response (SOR) grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have been required to use a survey tool to meet federal reporting requirements and support the federal government’s understanding of patient-level outcomes. Named after the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), states administered GPRA surveys to individuals accessing treatment and recovery services at intake, six-month follow-up, and discharge, a process that often proved time-consuming and burdensome for both providers and patients.

Beginning October 1, 2025, SAMHSA will retire the GPRA survey and replace it with the Unified Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT). This new tool is designed to reduce reporting burden and drive alignment with existing data systems as well as SAMHSA’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priority Area goals and objectives.

What’s New Under SUPRT

• Two components:

  • SUPRT–A will be completed by providers, using information from patient records.

  • SUPRT–C is a shorter questionnaire that will be filled out directly by patients or their caregivers.

• Reduction in burden: The two SUPRT tools are a shift away from the ~40-minute GPRA interviews. Together, these changes aim to make data collection less intrusive and more efficient, while still providing SAMHSA with valuable insights into treatment outcomes nationwide.

• Eligible population: Unlike GPRA, which applied primarily to adults 18+, SUPRT opens the door for people as young as 11 years old to participate in data collection. This change acknowledges the importance of capturing data on treatment and recovery experiences across a broader age range, given that SUD rates have been increasing for youth and young adults in recent years.

• Timing of data collection: The SUPRT includes an annual reassessment for patients still active in treatment and recovery one year following their intake assessment, unlike GPRA which only measured clients at 6-months. The annual SUPRT reassessment will add to states’ understanding of long-term treatment outcomes for patients in SUD recovery.

Planning for the SUPRT Transition

As states prepare for this transition, it will be important for SOR program administrators to:

• Spend time getting familiar with the new tools and processes. The new SUPRT surveys have fewer questions than the GPRA surveys and administering the SUPRT-C survey for patients may require using a paper form or tablet so that the client can complete it independently.

• Invest in technical assistance and training. Though SAMHSA has committed to offering technical assistance, trainings, and resources, states should prepare to adjust, potentially offering training to caregivers and pediatric providers with no previous GPRA involvement. To align with new SUPRT requirements, all resources for GPRA data collection will need to be revised and rewritten. Consider new audiences that may lack clinical training when updating resources.

• Acknowledge that large system changes take time. Providers and clinic staff who were accustomed to completing the GPRA survey with eligible clients and may have designed clinic intake processes to account for the GPRA, will need support to adjust to the new SUPRT tool.

Need help with your state’s transition?

Aurrera Health has extensive experience in assisting states with GPRA implementation and is ready to support the transition to SUPRT. We can help you navigate federal guidance, communicate changes to stakeholders, manage complex data systems, develop trainings, deliver technical assistance, and create resources for states, providers, and patients. States and other stakeholders interested in receiving support for their transition to SUPRT can contact Kelly Murphy for more information.

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Authors

Anisha Agrawal [Director]

Kelly Murphy [Managing Principal]