Bucks Co. Establishes Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A new Chairman's Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee comprised of experts will advise local authorities on appropriation of opioid settlement funds, Bucks County Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie announced Tuesday.

Harvie chose Bucks community members from different geographic areas with an array of backgrounds in human services, substance abuse prevention, and public safety, and experience working with groups affected by the opioid crisis, such as veterans.

The committee will advise him on proven, effective, and targeted solutions with an emphasis on recovery from, and prevention of, opioid addiction.

“The opioid epidemic which has affected so many lives in our county and our country is not over, and the process of holding accountable the people and companies responsible for unleashing this man-made plague is not over either,” Harvie said. “The settlement agreed upon by almost half the states in this nation will help Bucks County address the epidemic in our communities.”

Bucks County and many municipalities are plaintiffs in nationwide opioid litigation against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids. Earlier in 2022, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro negotiated a $1 billion settlement with three distributors — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson — and the manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

Under the settlement's allocation formula, which could be used as a blueprint for future settlements, Bucks County expects to receive roughly $44 million over 18 years. The county anticipates receiving the first allocation in June.

The committee’s advice will inform the allocation of funds received as part of this settlement, as well as the use of future recoveries obtained through the nationwide opioid litigation.

All funds must be used in ways that remediate the opioid epidemic, according to the terms of the settlement. The advisory committee will review and make recommendations on applications for funding, receiving input from members of the public and providing recommendations and feedback to the Chair on a regular basis each year.

The advisory committee will be chaired by Diane Rosati, Executive Director of Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission. She will be joined by the following members:

• Rachael Neff, LSW – Director of Human Services, County of Bucks
• Timothy Wynn – Director of Veterans Affairs, County of Bucks
• Alana Hardison – Prevention Specialist, No Longer Bound
• Ryan Schweiger, CPS, CRS, CPRP – Community Outreach Specialist, Penn Foundation
• William McVey – Director of Public Safety, Bensalem Township
• Micki Kaisinger – Founder, Emilie House

“I am grateful to the members of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee for their willingness to devote their time, energy and expertise to help ensure the effective use of these settlement funds,” Harvie said in his remarks.

He concluded, “Each of the seven members possess experiences and knowledge which makes them valuable to the committee, but most of all, they each have shown, in their personal and professional lives, an extraordinary dedication to serve our neighbors and communities.”

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