Gubernatorial Candidates Tout Opioid Settlements
Tuesday鈥檚 election served as a testing ground for themes that could resonate with voters in 2024. Abortion is obviously among the biggest. One that鈥檚 not getting as much attention as it deserves: opioid settlement money. In Kentucky, both the newly reelected Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, and his Republican challenger, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, were involved […]
Gubernatorial Candidates Quarrel Over Glory for Winning Opioid Settlements
Some gubernatorial candidates are sparring over bragging rights for their state鈥檚 share of $50 billion in opioid settlement funds. Many of the candidates are attorneys general who pursued the lawsuits that produced the payouts.
Using Opioid Settlement Cash for Police Gear Like Squad Cars and Scanners Sparks Debate
State and local governments will receive a windfall of more than $50 billion over 18 years from settlements with companies that made, sold, or distributed opioid painkillers. Using the funds for law enforcement has triggered important questions about what the money was meant for.
Officials Agree: Use Settlement Funds to Curb Youth Addiction. But the 鈥楬ow鈥 Gets Hairy.
Parents, educators, and elected officials agree that investing in school-based prevention efforts could help curb the rising rate of youth drug overdoses. The well-known D.A.R.E. program is one likely choice, but its effectiveness is in question.
Repeating History: California County Plugs Budget Gap With Opioid Settlement Cash
State attorneys general vowed that opioid settlement funds 鈥 unlike the tobacco settlement of the 1990s 鈥 would go toward tackling the underlying crisis. But in Mendocino County, officials have found a way to use some of its share to help fill a budget shortfall 鈥 a throwback to what agreement architects hoped to avoid.
Meet the People Deciding How to Spend $50 Billion in Opioid Settlement Cash
As settlement dollars land at the state level, state councils wield significant power in determining how the windfall gets spent. And, though they will likely include the most knowledgeable voices on addiction, these panels also face concerns about conflicts of interest and other issues.
What You Need to Know About the Opioid Settlement Funds
States and localities are receiving more than $54 billion over nearly two decades.
Se hacen p煤blicos por primera vez los pagos a los gobiernos locales por el acuerdo sobre opioides
Algunos estados, como Carolina del Norte y 聽Colorado, han publicado en internet los detalles de su distribuci贸n. Pero en la mayor铆a de los lugares es complicado.
Opioid Settlement Payouts to Localities Made Public for First Time
麻豆女优 Health News obtained documents showing the exact dollar amounts 鈥 down to the cent 鈥 that local governments have been allocated in 2022 and 2023 to battle the ongoing opioid crisis.
Find Out How Much Opioid Settlement Cash Your Locality Received
You can use documents obtained by 麻豆女优 Health News to see the exact dollar amounts that local governments in your state have been allocated in 2022 and 2023.
A Rural County鈥檚 Choice: Use Opioid Funds to Pay Off Debt, or Pay Them Forward to Curb Crisis
Greene County, Tennessee, so far has received more than $2.7 million from regional and national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. But most of the money is not going to help people and families harmed by addiction.
The Biden Administration Vowed to Be a Leading Voice on Opioid Settlements But Has Gone Quiet
Billions of dollars are headed to state and local governments to address the opioid crisis. Policy experts and advocates expect the federal government to play a role in overseeing the use of the money. Failure to do so, they say, could lead to wasted opportunities. And, since Medicaid helps pay health care costs, the feds could have a claim to portions of states鈥 opioid settlements.
Localize This: Public Reporting of Opioid Settlement Cash
麻豆女优 Health News鈥 recent investigation offers a great opportunity for reporters to investigate an important issue of government accountability from a state or local angle.
Se pagar谩n $50,000 millones como liquidaci贸n del acuerdo sobre opioides. Veremos c贸mo se gastan
La mayor铆a de los acuerdos estipulan que los estados deben gastar al menos el 85% del dinero que recibir谩n, en los pr贸ximos 15 a帽os, en el tratamiento y la prevenci贸n de adicciones.
$50 Billion in Opioid Settlement Cash Is on the Way. We鈥檙e Tracking How It鈥檚 Spent.
Spending the money effectively and equitably is a tall order for state and local governments, and a lack of transparency in the process is already leading to fears of misuse.
Her Credit Was Ruined by Medical Debt. She鈥檚 Been Turned Away From Doctors, Jobs, and Loans
When Penelope Wingard’s cancer went into remission, she lost her Medicaid coverage in North Carolina. Without insurance, the debts piled up for her follow-up care. She doesn’t think she’ll ever get ahead of it.
An Air Force Career Held up Because of Debt Owed for Medical Bills
Emergency room care left Samaria Bradford with $5,000 in medical bills. Now she has to track down and pay that debt before she can hope to enlist in the military.
In Rural America, Deadly Costs of Opioids Outweigh the Dollars Tagged to Address Them
Some people say it鈥檚 reasonable for densely populated areas to receive more settlement funds, since they serve more of those affected. But others worry this overlooks rural communities disproportionately harmed by opioid addiction.
Schools, Sheriffs, and Syringes: State Plans Vary for Spending $26B in Opioid Settlement Funds
The cash represents an unprecedented opportunity to derail the opioid epidemic, but with countless groups advocating for their share of the pie, the impact could depend heavily on geography and politics.
How Banks and Private Equity Cash In When Patients Can鈥檛 Pay Their Medical Bills
Hospitals strike deals with financing companies, generating profits for lenders, and more debt for patients.
