Kaptur, Hinson Introduce Bipartisan Opioid Settlement Accountability Act to Ensure Settlements Are Used to Address Opioid Crisis

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) introduced the bipartisan Opioid Settlement Accountability Act, legislation aimed at ensuring the funds that states receive from opioid settlements are used to fight the epidemic and are focused towards treatment, prevention, education, and enforcement. The Opioid Settlement Accountability Act would ensure funds from opioid related settlements are used to address the opioid crisis and are not being used as a piggy bank for other projects.

"As the opioids litigation settlements are determined, the federal government must assure Medicaid-related dollars are directed and allocated to explicitly fund efforts to curb this tragic crisis. This legislation would ensure accountability of the opioids settlement money recouped from big pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors and protect the funding from being used for other matters," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "In communities like those in Ohio and Iowa, where the opioids crisis has destroyed so many lives, settlement funds must be allocated to include treatment and social support services that help prevent further opioid misuse and substance abuse. Opioid settlement funds must be used to help fight the ongoing epidemic – not serve as a piggy bank for politicians."

“The deadly opioid epidemic continues to devastate families and ravage communities – everyone knows someone who has been impacted by this tragic crisis. To make matters worse, settlement funds dispersed thus far have too often fallen short of addressing the opioid crisis, and guardrails and accountability are needed,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02). “The bipartisan Opioid Settlement Accountability Act will ensure settlement funds are used for treatment, prevention, education, and enforcement to help those grappling with addiction and help save lives.”

The bill outlines that funds from these settlements be used for:

• Treatment and wrap around support services for individuals suffering from opioid use disorder.
• Education, prevention, and training related to the dangers of opioid abuse.
• Long-term recovery support services to help people find housing and jobs, reconnect with their families and communities, promote child well-being, navigate the criminal justice system, and avoid relapsing.
• Programs to help patients reduce or quit their use of opioids and educate our doctors and nurses about non-opioid pain management strategies.
• Support for our law enforcement and first responders who are on the front lines of this crisis on a daily basis.

Full text of the Opioid Settlement Accountability Act can be found by clicking here. A fact sheet for the Opioid Settlement Accountability Act can be found by clicking here. A link to Congresswoman Kaptur’s floor remarks on introduction can be found by clicking here.

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