TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly issued the following statement regarding Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s announcement of a $680 million settlement with Walgreens for its role in the opioid crisis.
“On behalf of Florida’s seven Managing Entities, I applaud Attorney General Moody for her steadfast fight in the battle against prescription drug abuse and the $680 million settlement her office reached with Walgreens,” said FAME CEO Natalie Kelly. “Florida is suffering from a drug overdose death rate 23 percent higher than the national average, and we must do everything we can to address this crisis.
“I look forward to these funds being made available in an accountable and streamlined manner over the next two decades by the state to combat the opioid epidemic.”
Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of over 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.
Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.
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About the Florida Association of Managing Entities
The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida. For more information, visit FLManagingEntities.com.