Juliana Stratton - Lieutenant Governor
Dr. Sameer Vohra - Director, Department of Public Health
Grace Hou - Secretary, Department of Human Services
3rd Quarterly Meeting Pursuant to Executive Order 2020-02
Date and Time
September 27, 2023
11:00 AM to 12:30 AM
Meeting Location
Teleconference
Meeting Link and Dial-In Information
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84967605328?pwd=bUpoRytyOFc5cWpsazduMURORTIxUT09
Phone Number: +1 309 205 3325 US
Meeting ID: 849 6760 5328
Passcode: 18468318
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (chair)
Lt. Governor
X
Dulce Quintero (representing Secretary Grace Hou (co-chair)
Illinois Department of Human Services
X
Director Dr. Sameer Vohra (co-chair)
Illinois Department of Public Health
X
Director Brendan Kelly
Illinois State Police
X
Dr. Arvind Goyal (representing Director Eagleson)
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
X
Luke Tomsha
Public Member, The Perfectly Flawed Foundation
X
Sherie Arriazola-Martinez
Public Member, Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council Member
X
Other State Agencies Represented
Director Laura Garcia
IDHS/Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
X
Director Marc Smith
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
X
Jessica Reichert
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
X
Debi Joy (representing Director Mueller)
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
X
I. Call to Order and Welcome
a. Lieutenant Governor Stratton called the meeting to order at 11:01 AM.
II. Roll call
a. Director Garcia conducted roll call.
b. A quorum was established.
III. Approve Agenda and Meeting Minutes
a. Agenda for 9/27/23
i. Motioned by Luke Tomsha
ii. Seconded by Sherie Arriazola Martinez
iii. All in favor
iv. No opposition
v. No abstention
b. Minutes for 5/10/23
i. Motioned by Sherie Arriazola Martinez
ii. Seconded by Dr. Arvind Goyal
iii. All in favor
iv. No opposition
v. No abstention
IV. Chairs' Remarks
a. Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton
i. Lieutenant Governor Stratton highlighted key accomplishments, including the distribution of Narcan by harm reduction organizations at events, new Oak Park mobile harm reduction outreach locations and their services, IDPH's Master Patient Index (MPI) that provides patient risk assessment of drug overdose and trend analysis, and McHenry County Health Department's distribution of Narcan, surveillance and response protocol, and enhanced data reporting system.
b. Director Dr. Sameer Vohra
i. Director Vohra discussed the 2022 mortality data, highlighted the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), and announced IDPH's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action grant to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and evaluation activities outlined in the Statewide Overdose Action Plan.
c. Incoming Secretary Dulce Quintero, representing Secretary Grace Hou
i. Incoming Secretary Dulce Quintero noted that September is National Recovery Month. Incoming Secretary Quintero discussed work conducted to reach the justice-involved population through deflection.
V. New Business
a. Understanding the Opioid Settlement Fund, Illinois Office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Adam Braun, Executive Deputy Attorney General, Andrea Law, Deputy Bureau Chief, Health Care Bureau, Susan Ellis
i. Andrea Law presented on the status of the settlements and how monies are flowing into the remediation fund. The finalized national opioid settlements to date are AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal, and McKesson; Johnson & Johnson; Mallinckrodt; Allergan; Teva; CVS; Walgreens; and Walmart. All settlements include monetary terms, robust injunctive relief, and require significant participation by local subdivisions.
ii. Additional national settlements are expected, including Purdue Pharma, Endo, and Kroger.
iii. The Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement governs how funds from any National Multistate Opioid Settlement coming to Illinois will be allocated. A total of 55% is allocated to the Illinois Remediation Fund; 25% goes directly to local subdivisions (all counties, litigating municipalities, and nonlitigating municipalities with populations > 30,000 are eligible subdivisions); and 20% is allocated to the state (8% to Chicago and 12% to the state).
iv. The vast majority of subdivisions eligible to receive a direct distribution have joined, but a small number have not signed on to the agreements. If the subdivisions don't join, the monies are reallocated to the other subdivisions to Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Stratton noted the importance of making sure that
all eligible subdivisions receive their share and suggested that the State consider efforts to support subdivisions in receiving funds.
v. To date, more than $192M has been distributed for allocation under the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, with over $105M being dispersed to the Illinois Remediation Fund.
vi. Andrea Law shared the estimated amounts that will go into the Illinois Remediation Fund over time. Payments are expected to occur until 2023.
vii. The funds must be used for opioid abatement. The Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement outlines the approved uses. The list mirrors the approved uses in the national settlements.
viii. Every state negotiated allocation of funds within their own state.
ix. Adam Braun stated that there are reporting requirements to make sure the funds are used for their intended purpose. If the State or the IORAB would like to use some funds to evaluate outcomes, this is permissible.
b. Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board Update, Approved Recommendations, Sherrine Peyton, Statewide Opioid Settlement Administrator, Office of Opioid Settlement Administration Updates, IDHS/SUPR
1) Core Strategy A. Naloxone and Other FDA-Approved Drug to reverse overdose. Establishes a system for intramuscular naloxone acquisition, supplies, and distribution for all seven regions; funding is $1M a year for three years ($3M total).
a. Director Garcia noted that currently, there is no one facility or hub for the provision of intramuscular naloxone. This would provide this one vendor (similar to access to Narcan) that could distribute to remote areas of the State.
2) Core Strategy B. Medication Assisted Treatment Distribution and other Opioid related treatment. A rolling application to increase access to mobile services that provide medication-assisted recovery, treatment, healthcare and recovery support services in areas with the highest overdose rates and gaps in service; funding is $5M/year for three years ($15M total).
3) Core Strategy C. Pregnant and Post-partum Women/People. To pilot comprehensive wrap-around services to pregnant and post-partum people with OUD and their families based on regional needs in the seven IDPH regions; funding is $2M/year for three years ($6M total).
a. A member requested clarification about how post-partum and family are defined.
b. There was discussion about the limited amount of funding and a request for clarification on how the funding amount was determined. Ms. Peyton noted they can always come back and request additional funding if needed.
4) Core Strategy E. Expansion of Warm Handoff programs and Recovery Services. Expand recovery services in high impact areas and procure new services where there is no provider, but services are needed based on data; funding is $2M/year for three years ($6M total).
5) Core Strategy F. Treatment for Incarcerated Population. To provide evidence-based MOUD services for those incarcerated or transitioning out of incarceration as well as training for the criminal justice system; funding is for $2M/year for three years ($6M total).
a. There was a request for information about how the funding amount was determined. The Lieutenant Governor said it would be helpful to understand what proportion of the population would be covered by the funding amount and the gap that still needs to be filled.
b. It was noted that intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) could provide sustainable funding to communities as an alternative to a three-year grant.
6) Core Strategy G. Prevention Services. Fund regional and local coalitions and organizations to implement prevention programs, strategies, and efforts that focus on youth (pre-school+), their families, and their community that have been affected by the opioid epidemic and related factors such as community violence; funding is for $5M/year for three years ($15M total).
a. A member stated that it is important to provide education and messaging for coalitions on harm reduction.
7) Core Strategy I. Data Collection and Research on OSF Strategies. To conduct community-based participatory evaluation and/or the effectiveness of innovative strategies funded by settlement dollars; funding is for $500K/year for three years ($1.5M total).
8) Capital Improvement Construction and Mobile Units Recommendation. Use of opioid settlement funds for capital projects that support the Core Abatement Strategies.
a. Director Garcia explained that there is no funding amount yet because they are determining the funding mechanism for this strategy. Once this is determined, a scope of work and funding amount will be presented to the IORAB.
9) CORS Model funding and service increase (Core Strategies B and H). Open the CORS model qualifications to recovery, peer organizations, and harm reduction programs (certification not required), and treatment organizations; adjust the funding amounts to allow for more grantees and make the program a three-year cycle; this will add $10M to the approved $5M, for $15M total.
a. A member asked for clarification on how implementation of the recommendations will be determined. Director Garcia said they will draft information and provide it at a later date.
VI. Official Board Members Call for a Vote on Recommendations
Lieutenant Governor conducted a roll call vote for each recommendation.
1) Core Strategy A. Naloxone and Other FDA-Approved Drug to reverse overdose.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
2) Core Strategy B. Medication Assisted Treatment Distribution and other Opioid related treatment.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
3) Core Strategy C. Pregnant and Post-partum Women/People. All members voted in favor of the strategy.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
4) Core Strategy E. Expansion of Warm Handoff programs and Recovery Services.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
5) Core Strategy F. Treatment for Incarcerated Population.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
6) Core Strategy G. Prevention Services.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
7) Core Strategy I. Data Collection and Research on OSF Strategies.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
8) Capital Improvement Construction and Mobile Units Recommendation.
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
9) CORS Model funding and service increase (Core Strategies B and H).
a. All in favor
b. No opposition
c. No abstention
VII. Member Updates
a. There were no member updates.
VIII. Public Comment
a. There were no public comments.
IX. Adjournment
a. Lieutenant Governor Stratton noted that the opioid steering committee has met and worked alongside partners as a result of Executive Order 2020-02. Lieutenant Governor Stratton thanked partners IDPH, IDHS and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. for their work convening, hosting, and assisting with meeting facilitation over the years. The Executive Order is set to end on September 30, 2023, and IDHS has taken the lead in an application for the continuance of the order.
b. Lieutenant Governor Stratton adjourned the meeting at 12:30 pm.
i. Motioned by Secretary Grace Hou
ii. Seconded by Luke Tomsha
iii. All in favor
iv. No oppositive
v. No abstention
