News & Media
MSMS STATEMENT: Michigan State Medical Society praises Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Plan for Spending Opioid Settlement Dollars
The following is a public statement from Thomas Veverka, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to the state of Michigan’s release of the MDHHS’s proposed Opioid Settlement Spend Plan for the State of Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2023.
“I would like to praise the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for seeking and incorporating stakeholder input on how to best allocate funding coming to the state from settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The result is a thoughtful and thorough plan for how to spend these funds in a manner that will help in reducing overdose deaths as well as other negative health and social consequences often associated with substance use disorders.
“Proactively addressing increasing drug-related overdoses and deaths has been a priority for our society for some time now, and our task force on the matter has invested considerable time and effort into devising recommendations aimed to ensure that any settlement funds are directed towards effective solutions that provide individuals with access to critical supports and services, remove barriers to evidence-based treatment, promote long-term recovery, and reduce stigma. We are pleased to see these considerations reflected in the MDHHS’s plan, and with the expected $800 million coming to Michigan in settlement funds over 18 years, we will finally have the financial resources that will strongly bolster multi-system efforts to invest in the kind of prevention, treatment and harm reduction programs and measures that can and will make a real difference in improving lives and reducing mortality.”