Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board
Access & Equity Working Group Meeting
March 12, 2024
Virtual Meeting Held Via Zoom
Meeting Minutes
Access and Equity Working Group Members
Joel K. Johnson, TASC, Inc. (Chair)
David Gomel, PhD, Rosecrance
Mike Tyson, Take Action Today
Shane Pettigrew, Illinois State Police
Jonnell Benson-Cobbs, DPN, Serenity Treatment and Counseling Center
Tim Devitt, PsyD, Private Practice
Gail Richardson, West Side Opioid Task Force
Debbie Holsapple, Jefferson County Comprehensive Services
Charles Stratton, Department of Human Resources, Sangamon County
James L. Grafton, Administrator, Rock Island County
Diana Bottari, MD, Advocate Aurora Health
Blanca Campos, Community Behavioral Healthcare Association
John Werning, Chicago Recovery Alliance
Mark Mulroe, A Safe Haven Foundation
Christopher Hoff, DuPage County Health Department
Michael Wahl, MD, Illinois Poison Center, Illinois Health and Hospital Association
Matthew Richards, Chicago Department of Public Health
Welcome and Roll Call
Joel Johnson welcomed the group and called the meeting to order. Sue Pickett, PhD of Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), facilitator, conducted roll call. Jonnell BensonCobbs, Shane Pettigrew, Charles Stratton, Mark Mulroe, Christopher Hoff, Michael Wahl and Matthew Richards were not present. John Werning and Debbie Holsapple arrived after roll call. All other members were present. Quorum was established.
Review and Approval of January 9, 2024 Meeting Minutes
The January 9, 2024 meeting minutes were reviewed. Mr. Johnson called for a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Blanca Campos made a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Mike Tyson seconded the motion to approve the meeting minutes. All members present voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried.
Chairs Meeting Update
Mr. Johnson, Ms. Campos and Dr. Pickett gave an update on a recent meeting of the IORAB Working Group Chairs. At the January 18, 2024 IORAB meeting, there was discussion about working groups' role in the recommendation review process and a request for greater transparency in the review process. In response, the Chairs, Dr. Pickett, and Interim Statewide Opioid Settlement Administrator (SOSA) Jim Wilkerson met and discussed strategies to increase working groups' involvement in the recommendation review process. Going forward, the Chairs and SOSA will meet as needed to review recommendations that have been sent to the Office of Opioid Settlement Administration (OOSA). Chairs will decide which recommendations are relevant to their working group; these recommendations will be sent to the respective working group(s) for review before they are presented to the IORAB. All working groups should continue to develop new and innovative recommendations.
Priority Recommendations for the IORAB
The working group discussed a potential addition to the training and supervision recommendation. This recommendation was developed by the Workforce Development & Infrastructure Working Group; the Access & Equity Working Group voted to support the recommendation at the December 12, 2023 meeting. Mr. Wilkerson suggested that, as all future recommendations for settlement funds are reviewed, paid field training experiences could be added, when appropriate, as an additional component. These paid field training experiences would be encouraged, but not required. The recommendation was revised to reflect this change. The revised recommendation reads: 1) Provide funding to support paid training /field training experiences, scholarships, and the expansion of dedicated supervision (when not reimbursed or funded by Medicaid or other state funding sources).These training experiences should include but not be limited to entry-level and early career clinicians, peer support specialists, harm reduction providers and individuals working toward licensure or certification within a SUPR licensed or funded organization. 2) Field training experiences should also be considered and funded by, where appropriate, each proposed recommendation approved by the Steering Committee.
* A working group member asked if the funding would also support applications for credentialling and licensure. Mr. Wilkerson said is not included as other programs cover application and test fees.
* A working group member asked about the expansion of supervision. Another working group member explained that the recommendation funds time to provide clinical or other supervision.
* Mr. Johnson called for a motion to approve the revised recommendation. Mike Tyson called for a motion to approve the revised recommendation. Blanca Campos seconded the motion. All members present voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried.
* Mr. Johnson led a discussion about technology-related recommendations, including recommendations related to internet connectivity, telehealth, and apps that could address recovery, mental health, and administrative burden. Dr. Pickett reviewed the allocation agreement. One approved use is "Expand telehealth to increase access to treatment for OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, including MAT, as well as counseling, psychiatric support, and other treatment and recovery support services".
* Some organizations are using apps to help with administrative burden. Funding for technology to help clinicians streamline processes could reduce administrative burden, creating more time to work directly with clients.
* There are artificial intelligence (AI) apps that can be helpful, such as apps for patient notes. Netsmart is integrating some AI applications.
* IRIS (Integrated Referral & Intake System) is a community referral system that many counties are adopting. It could help with access to treatment providers.
* Funding for an operational health information exchange system would be helpful.
* Mr. Wilkerson said that some organizations may already have funding through Medicaid to cover devices, and funding can't supplant an existing funding stream. The opportunity could be offered to organizations that don't have that funding through Medicaid. The recommendation could also help organizations get the credentialling or workforce needed to provide telehealth.
* Smokefree.gov (Home | Smokefree) and teen smokefree.gov (Home | Smokefree Teen) are good examples of comprehensive platforms for accessing information on quitting and reducing harm. Access to this type of information is needed for opioids. These are selfdirected and clinician-led.
* A working group member recently submitted a recommendation for a mobile phone-based app delivering peer support services. This is especially needed in rural communities where there are large parts of the state with gaps in services. When discussed with OOSA staff, they were told the recommendation was good, but it was already being worked on. The working group may want to take this into consideration to avoid redundancies.
* There is also a need to develop the capacity of organizations to provide telehealth. In addition, there is also the need for funding to support technology.
* App-based interventions, especially for teens and younger clients, are needed. A working group member added that apps or technology, apart from telehealth, is needed to create efficiencies, improve electronic health records (EHRs), and/or provide more services.
* Dr. Pickett summarized that the group wants to 1) provide funding so organizations can increase their capacity to provide telehealth and 2) fund telehealth (such as through devices and hot spots). She will draft language for the recommendation.
Public Participation
A member of the public expressed appreciation for the increased transparency in the recommendation review process.
Adjourn
Mr. Johnson adjourned the meeting. The next Access & Equity working group meeting will be held via Zoom on May 14, 2024, from 10:30am-11:30am.
