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# Transparency and Michigan Opioid Settlement Funds
- URL: https://news.opioidpolicy.org/mi-treasury-rfr-hub/
- Published: 2024-08-12T22:51:14.000Z
- Updated: 2024-11-20T18:02:37.000Z
- Description: It's time to change how the opioid settlement money is tracked in Michigan.
- Author: Jonathan JK Stoltman (PhD)
- Tags: Opioid Settlement Money, Policy

## Our Treasury Request for Rulemaking

**As you know, transparency regarding opioid settlement spending has been lacking in Michigan.** Michigan has already collected ***$181 million*** in opioid settlement dollars, with future amounts totaling more than ***$1.5 billion***. However, relatively little has been disclosed about this spending. To fulfill the need to know how the money is being used to reduce harm from opioids, the **Opioid Policy Institute** and the **Center for Popular Democracy** are requesting that the Michigan Department of Treasury develop transparent and non-burdensome audit rules to track and disseminate information about all of Michigan's opioid settlement fund spending. This auditing authority exists as part of the *Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund,*but has not been properly leveraged to increase transparency around spending. 

A clear auditing process is an essential step towards achieving transparency regarding spending here in Michigan. Transparency is especially critical when dealing with funds intended to address a crisis as profound and personal as the opioid overdose crisis. 

## ****Michigan government leaders need to hear from you that transparency is an** ***essential** ****part of opioid settlement spending**

Time for some action

[Contact Michigan Government Officials](https://secure.everyaction.com/n7cuXfqYZkuY00roFI2zwQ2?ms=EM+MIOpoidSettlement+HEALTH) 

### **Our issue brief explaining the how and why behind our RFR** 

[MI Treasury RFR Issue Brief - 8.12.24MI Treasury RFR Issue Brief - 8.12.24.pdf142 KBdownload-circle](https://news.opioidpolicy.org/content/files/2024/08/MI-Treasury-RFR-Issue-Brief---8.12.24.pdf "Download")

### For the wonky ones, here's the RFR

This RFR was co-authored by the folks at [Popular Democracy](https://www.populardemocracy.org/) and intern Harmukh Singh a J.D. Candidate from Columbia Law School (2024).

[RFR - DOT - Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund - redactedRFR - DOT - Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund - redacted.pdf2 MBdownload-circle](https://news.opioidpolicy.org/content/files/2024/08/RFR---DOT---Michigan-Opioid-Healing-and-Recovery-Fund---redacted.pdf "Download")

### **Here's our open letter advocating for the Michigan Department of Treasury to develop audit rules for the opioid settlement money** 

[Michigan Opioid Settlement Sign-on Letter - August 2024For more than 20 years, the opioid epidemic has inflicted immeasurable pain and suffering across Michigan. On behalf of Michigan residents, the government brought forward cases against various opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies to remedy these harms. As a result of these lawsui…![](https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/documents/images/kix-favicon-2023q4.ico)Google Docs![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docs/AHkbwyIXMcTRITW2UvfywLOIzytv2M3HhER3HoXwbnPAvp6-pg6Opr5PDAF_kzErL5b7g9Uq8FjOTwmsDZiI-_l4JEQuZQ8Jg09abVeMw6A8iHIvqaW8R5Kr=w1200-h630-p)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oL9XZUdKclaIl9ek-mXrpZnCYzecgsgoPlS671wIRYA/edit?usp=sharing)

### Update - 11 Nov 2024

Our request was ***DENIED*** \- see the reasoning here:

[MI Treasury RFR DenialMI Treasury RFR Denial.pdf459 KBdownload-circle](https://news.opioidpolicy.org/content/files/2024/11/MI-Treasury-RFR-Denial.pdf "Download")

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