West Virginia’s state health official was chosen Wednesday to represent one of the state’s worst-hit regions for drug overdoses on the board of a private foundation that will distribute most of the more than $1 billion in state opioid settlements. .
Dr. Matthew Christiansen, who also serves as commissioner of the state’s Bureau for Public Health, was named director to represent Cabell, Clay, Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, Mason, Mingo and Wayne counties among the 11 members. West Virginia First Foundation board. He was voted into the position of representatives from the local governments of each province. Christiansen previously served as director of the state Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Drug Control Policy until being promoted to commissioner and state health officer in January.
During a meeting of local governments in the central southwest region of the state on Wednesday, Christiansen called the foundation and the money “a unique opportunity for us to correct some mistakes that done here in West Virginia.”
“We still have a lot of work to do,” he said. “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind in this room, that we are not where we need to be.”
Christiansen said he would like to see resources to build the state’s continuum of care, particularly in prevention and screening efforts, an area that has been “traditionally underfunded,” to try to reach. people before they fall into “that vicious cycle of addiction where it’s too late.”
By 2021, more than 35% of overdoses in West Virginia will occur in the region that Christiansen will represent.
“I’m very concerned about how we’re going to make sure that we’re managing and deploying these dollars in the most appropriate way possible in the most transparent way possible,” he said.
The West Virginia First Foundation was created as an initiative of the attorney general’s office, the agency that prosecutes opioid cases in the state. Officials from 55 West Virginia counties signed a memorandum of understanding that allows money to be funneled through the foundation and dictates how it is spent. The system was given the green light by the state Legislature and Gov. Jim Justice earlier this year.
According to the agreement, the foundation will only distribute less than three-quarters of the settlement money won by the state in cases against opioid manufacturers and distributors in West Virginia. About a quarter will go directly to local communities and 3% will be retained by the trust. West Virginia is home to the highest overdose death rate in the country.
All funds should be used to eliminate the opioid crisis through efforts such as evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or support law enforcement efforts to prevent distribution.
Under state law, the foundation’s board must be in place by July 17, 60 days after the foundation’s articles of incorporation are filed with the secretary of state’s office.
Five foundation board members will be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Six board members will be elected as Christiansen to represent six regions across the state.
Other nominees to the board Wednesday in unofficial results shared during public meetings were Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce from Wood County, in the northwest part of the state, and Community Corrections Director Berkeley County’s Tim Czaja in the eastern panhandle region. The official results will be certified within a week.
Last week, local government officials in central southeastern West Virginia selected Dr. Tony Kelly, an emergency room physician, will be the board’s inaugural director. Kelly has nearly 40 years of experience working in hospitals in historic coal mining towns such as Beckley and Welch.
Northern West Virginia officials met in Ohio County and Monongalia County on Thursday to select two representatives.
Before joining the state’s office of drug control policy, Christiansen was active in primary care and addiction treatment. He earned his medical degree and master’s degree in public health from Marshall University.
Over the past four years, drug manufacturers, distribution companies, pharmacies and other companies with roles in the opioid business have reached settlements with a total of more than $ 50 billion to governments.
While the largest amount is in settlements nationwide, West Virginia __ perhaps the state hardest hit by the prescription drug overdose crisis __ has been aggressive in bringing its own cases and reaching more than a dozen settlements.
Last May, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced that the state was settling Kroger for $68 million over its role in distributing highly addictive prescription painkillers in West Virginia. Walgreens settled in January for $83 million while Walmart and CVS settled in the state in September. Walmart agreed to a settlement of more than $65 million and CVS for $82.5 million. In August, Rite Aid settled for up to $30 million to resolve similar litigation.
The West Virginia First Foundation will be led by an executive director appointed by Morrisey and approved by its board. A fast-paced search is underway to select an executive director within the next month or two. The state hired search firm DRiWaterstone Human Capital, based in Arlington, Virginia, to help identify candidates.
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