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Most of the latest round of Wisconsin’s opioid settlement money either went to building new buildings or the state’s tribal police departments.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Thursday released a report into the state’s $21 million in opioid settlement funds.
“Two years ago, the attorney general announced final approval of an agreement with the nation’s top three major pharmaceutical distributors (Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen) and Johnson & Johnson, known as the National Prescription Opiate Litigation Case,” DHS explained in a statement. “Payments from the distributors will continue for 14 more years. Payments from Johnson & Johnson will continue for seven more years. Wisconsin also began receiving money this year from settlements reached with Teva, Allergan, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS.”
Wisconsin has received $75 million so far, and will receive a total of $153 million through 2038.
DHS’s latest report details the spending from October through December.
That spending includes $7.7 million for building projects, $6 million for tribal nation abatement, and another $3 million for other law enforcement abatement. DHS reported spending another $3 million on Naloxone, and $2.75 million on room and board costs for Medicaid members in residential treatment facilities.
The department says it spent just $1.2 million on its “substance use disorder treatment platform.”
“This funding continues to embrace evidence-based approaches to meet people where they’re at,” said DHS Director of Substance Use Initiatives Michelle Haese. “We are making intentional investments in supports and services for Wisconsinites, ultimately helping to improve and save the lives of people experiencing substance misuse or substance use disorders.”
DHS’s report does not offer specific details on just what was built with the opioid settlement money, or how many people were treated by its “substance use disorder treatment platform.”
Haese said in her statement that there’s more work to do, which is why DHS is opening a public comment period for suggestions on how to spend the next round of opioid money. That public comment period will remain open til the end of February.
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