State details opioid-settlement spending; Spokane region among recipients

At a Spokane County regional meeting, officials from the Washington State Health Care Authority on March (date not specified) outlined how opioid‑settlement dollars are being distributed and used in Spokane County and the six‑county region.

The Health Care Authority (HCA) presentation described a multi‑year flow of settlements and bankruptcy payments to state and local governments, explained the state’s role in recommending uses to the governor and legislature, and listed current Spokane programs funded in part by settlement money.

The overview noted that tribes receive 20% of settlement deposits into a separate tribal account created by a recent session bill (referred to in the briefing as “bill 6099”). HCA staff said local governments receive direct payments and many regions have formed opioid abatement councils to decide local spending priorities. “There’s a lot of interest in how the opioid‑settlement dollars are being used,” HCA’s state opioid administrator, Chris Sherrer, told meeting participants.

Why it matters: opioid‑settlement funds are a continuing, multi‑year revenue stream that local officials said they are using to expand treatment, harm‑reduction and reentry services. Spokane County and its regional partners described a mix of local projects and statewide…