Industry
States Spend Opioid Settlement Funds on Homelessness Programs
KFF Health News reports that state and local governments are directing some opioid settlement dollars toward initiatives aimed at curbing homelessness. The spending has drawn scrutiny because the investments do not always focus directly on addiction treatment, even though many stakeholders believe that is the intended purpose of the funds. The article does not specify which jurisdictions or programs are involved or when any changes might occur.
Why it mattersBehavioral health providers and state agencies administering opioid settlement funds may face continued questions over whether homelessness-focused spending satisfies the funds' intended addiction-treatment purpose.