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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 9114 with the City of Placerville (City), authorizing the acceptance and transfer of City Opioid Settlement Agreement funds to the County in the estimated amount of $522,387, with a perpetual term effective upon execution, that is anticipated to cover an 18-year period, for the delivery of opioid remediation services to El Dorado County residents in need; and
2) Authorize the HHSA Director or Chief Assistant Director to execute amendments relating to MOU 9114, contingent upon approval by County Counsel, which do not increase Net County Cost.
FUNDING: 100% State California Department of Health Care Services Opioid Settlement Disbursement Fund awarded to City of Placerville.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The opioid overdose epidemic is a major public health crisis that has impacted nearly every region and demographic group in the United States (U.S.). According to research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1999-2021, nearly 645,000 people died from an overdose involving an opioid, which included overdose deaths caused from prescription and illicit opioids. Consequently, state, local, and tribal governments brought lawsuits against pharmaceutical and drug distribution companies alleging drug manufacturers and suppliers improperly marketed and distributed opioids across the US, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Beginning in 2021, lawsuits were settled for large amounts, with the funding settlements to provide substantial funds to county and city governments for the abatement of the opioid epidemic. These settlements were awarded at up to $26 billion in total, in which the State of California (State) is expected to receive approximately $2.5 billion which will be paid through 2038. Within the State, DHCS was tasked with overseeing local county and city gove...
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