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Committee approves opioid‑abatement settlement participation; health staff say second RFP is under review
Summary
The committee voted to authorize Metro to join state and local governments in amending the Tennessee opioid abatement agreement. Health department representatives said a second request for proposals (RFP) is being prepared, and council members asked for public sharing of pilot results and slide materials.
The Public Health and Safety Committee on Sept. 16 approved a resolution authorizing the Metropolitan Government to join the State of Tennessee and other local governments in amending the statewide opioid abatement agreement and to approve related settlements and agreements. Council members asked for clarity about how settlement funds will be spent and whether previous pilot project results would be made public.
Council member Evans, referencing a budget committee discussion, asked what the settlement money will fund and whether the opioid settlement steering committee had met publicly. Health department staff responded that they have prepared a second RFP for abatement strategies that is under review by procurement staff and that it "would be open to, the majority of the abatement strategies, providers would be able to bid on it," though the department said the RFP had not been released and specific funded activities could not yet be promised.
Evans requested that slides presented at a Behavioral Health Wellness Advisory Council meeting describing an earlier pilot be shared publicly; health staff said they could make that request. The committee approved the resolution (RS2025-1480) without recorded amendment and asked staff to follow up with the additional information requested.
Ending: The resolution passed; committee members sought public access to prior pilot materials and an accounting plan for how future opioid abatement funds will be solicited and allocated through the upcoming RFP.
