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Commissioner Brown - DHHS - Community Support Services - To Appropriate and Approve a Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds for the Gaston County Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Scholarship Fund (GCMATS) to be Developed and Implemented by McLeod Centers for Wellbeing (Year 1: $122,800 / Total Project: $368,400)
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STAFF CONTACT
Gregory Grier - Community Support Services - 704-862-6735
BUDGET IMPACT
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Increase revenue and expenses in the Opioid Settlement Fund. No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The State of NC joined in the national litigation against pharmaceutical supply chain participants who engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, or dispensing of opioid medications that has harmed the public. On June 8, 2021 the Board of Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation (Res 2021-172) joining in the national litigation. Gaston County will receive a projected $43,000,000 in settlement funds to be received over a period of 18 years. To date, the County has received $ 4,250,134 in settlement funds. To date, $2,778,431 has been allocated by the Board of Commissioners.
A Request for Proposals for evidence-based addiction treatment programs and services to address the opioid epidemic in our community was issued and posted from September 1, 2023 until October 1, 2023. Four proposals were received. Each proposal was reviewed and scored by a subcommittee of the Gaston County Opioid Settlement Team. Two of the four proposals were recommended for funding. The proposal submitted by McLeod Centers for Wellbeing is one of the two recommended proposals.
This Board Action, if approved, appropriates $368,400.00 in Opioid Settlement funds for the Gaston County Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Scholarship fund (GCMATS). The GCMATS program will be developed and implemented by McLeod Centers for Wellbeing and will provide Gaston County’s uninsured/underinsured residents the opportunity to receive Evidence-Based Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder along with care navigation to address social determinants of health that may impact a patient’s recovery, the most important among these being financial insecurity.
Year 1 (January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024): $122,800.00
Year 2 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025): $245,600.00
The program will also partner with Gaston County Police Department’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to provide MAT to uninsured LEAD participants.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Spending Authorization Resolution and Budget Change Request (BCR)