Dept. releases plan for initial opioids settlement funds
State and local governments in Michigan have received the initial payments of the nearly $800 million the state will receive over 18 years as part of the $26 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors, as well as opioid manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been authorized to spend $39.2 million of the initial settlement payment to the state. MDHHS will use the funding to continue to support evidence-based programming, including for treatment providers, recovery supports, harm-reduction strategies, prevention programming and other organizations that support individuals with substance use disorders.
“In Michigan, we are using this long-term funding to address the multi-generational impact of the opioid epidemic as well as address racial disparities that exist as part of the opioids crisis,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel.
As part of the plan, MDHHS will use the opioids settlement dollars to expand capacity for treatment. This includes reviewing barriers that can’t be addressed with federal funding, such as provider workforce capacity and expansion of treatment facility infrastructure.
Additional information regarding proposed programming efforts is provided in the Opioids Settlement: FY2023 Spend Plan. MDHHS will share more detailed information as funding is allocated to programs in the near future.
According to a joint statement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, 50% of the settlement amount will be sent directly to county and local governments.
Additional information about the opioids settlement is available on the Department of Attorney General’s website at www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/opioids.
Panel to discuss intergovernmental oversight of election administration
The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy is partnering with NAPA’s Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships for a webinar on the intergovernmental oversight of election administration and equitable voting access. “Election Administration and Equitable Voting Access” will take place Wednesday, February 22, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The webinar will feature a panel discussion with speakers from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the University of Southern California’s Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, and more followed by a Q&A session.
To register for the free webinar, visit https://levin-center.org. Anyone with questions may email the Levin Center at Wayne Law at levincenter@wayne.edu.
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