Plan to send all of NJ’s $45M opioid settlement money to 4 hospitals raises concerns
The state attorney general and those who work in recovery services want to know why only four hospitals will be getting the funds.
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All of New Jersey’s $45 million in opioid settlement money for the next year could be going to four hospitals.
The state attorney general and those who work in recovery services want to know why.
At the statehouse in Trenton on Monday, those who work with New Jersey Harm Reduction, people dedicated to saving the lives of the addicted from overdose, protested the item posted in the state’s budget.
State legislators are considering a budget that would send money to four hospitals, including Atlantic Health Care, RWJ Barnabas, Cooper Health and Hackensack Hospital.
That would be a massive shift because, since 2022, the funds have been going to nonprofits and county programs throughout the state of New Jersey.
New Jersey Attorney General Mathew Platkin also wants to know why these hospitals, which have no plans for treatment, education or recovery, were chosen for this money.
In a statement, Platkin is reminding legislators, the opioid settlement money is designed to “force companies to pay back the blood money that they stole in fueling the opioid epidemic.”
The director of New Jersey Harm Reduction agrees. That organization provides Naloxone to those in need, along with medication, assistance with housing, legal services and more.
Director Jenna Mellor is on the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council and worked for 15 months to determine where that money should be allocated.
“That money was supposed to go to innovative solutions, funding hospitals was not part of it - $45 million more than has been spent on anything else is going to four hospitals with no explanation, with no plan and contrary to every action the public input has shown,” said Mellor.
Mellor is hoping that state senators reverse the budget item. Otherwise, they’ll ask for a line-item veto from Gov. Phil Murphy.
