Gov. Whitmer signs order giving local governments say in spending opioid settlement money
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed an order adding 10 representatives from local governments to the state's opioids task force, giving them a say in where and how opioid settlement monies will be spent.
The 10 new members are to be appointed by Whitmer. They are to come from each of the state's 10 Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan regions for Medicaid. PIHPs are in charge of managing mental health and substance abuse treatment for people enrolled in Medicaid and other publicly funded programs. The regions cover all 83 of the state's counties.
“Today’s adjustments to the Opioids Task Force will bring in local voices and authorize the group to direct money received from settlements and bankruptcies," Whitmer said in a prepared statement. "Getting this done will help resources get out the door and into the community more efficiently to treat opioid use disorder and support our neighbors, family, and friends in treatment and recovery."
The new order signed by Whitmer requires the task force to meet publicly four times a year.
Michigan has already been awarded $800 million of settlement money from the $26 billion national lawsuit. It is to be paid out over 18 years.
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In addition, the state is expecting to receive $37 million from the opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical, according to Whitmer's statement announcing the change in the opioids task force.
Last year, Michigan recorded 3,040 drug overdose deaths, an all-time record. Most of the deaths were related to fentanyl, the ultra-potent synthetic opioid.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gov. Whitmer adds 10 members to Michigan's Opioids Task Force
