PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island has been slower than most states in spending the first wave of emergency money from Congress to target the opioid crisis.
An analysis by The Associated Press found that states are taking very different approaches to spending their first-year grant award under the 21st Century Cures Act.
States that expanded Medicaid under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul reported spending more slowly. In those states, the insurance program already covers addiction treatment for nearly everyone who’s poor and needs it.
Rhode Island, which expanded Medicaid, was allocated nearly $2.2 million but spent only 17 percent by the time spending reports were due, or about $360,000. That ranked Rhode Island 53rd out of 55 states and territories for how much of its funding it spent. About half the money went to treatment services.
The state says the total spending is higher when late invoices are included, and the solicitation process takes time.
The grant went to the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. The department says more than $750,000 was spent in the first year when the additional invoices are included.
It’s working with federal officials on how to spend the carry-over funds to further invest in prevention, trainings and the overdose reversal medication Naloxone.
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