Payment Information
Distribution of settlement funds by the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is governed by the terms set forth in the Order. The Order allocates 15% of funds to the Commonwealth, 70% to Counties, and 15% to Litigating Subdivisions. In 2022, distributions were made to the Commonwealth, Counties, and Litigating Subdivisions in August and in December, as settlement funds were received.
Beginning in 2023, distributions will be made annually per the terms set forth in the Order:
- By September 1: Notification of payments from the Trust to Counties and Litigating Subdivisions.
- By November 15: Counties and Litigating Subdivisions submit an annual certification to the Trust.
- On or about December 15: The Trust distributes funds to Counties and Litigating Subdivisions.
- On or about June 15: The Trust distributes funds to the Commonwealth.
Recipients of funds from the Trust are reminded that to receive funds, an entity must submit a Certification Form no later than November 15 each year. Please note that 2024 payments will be distributed according to the payment information provided by a payee in 2023 unless a different method of payment is requested by the payee.
September 1 Notices of Estimated Distributions
2023
2024
Spending and Reporting
Settlement funds must be spent according to the uses authorized in the settlement agreements and in accordance with Exhibit E. All funds must be spent within 18 months of receipt by the recipient unless a county or subdivision elects to use such funds for a multi-year capital project in accordance with Exhibit E.
Counties and subdivisions wishing to request a 6-month extension, beyond 18 months of receipt of funds, will have the option to request an extension when completing their annual report to the Trust. Due by March 15 each year, this report must include the actual expenditures of such funds and the amount of funds received but not spent by the close of the previous calendar year. At a special meeting on March 1, 2023, the Trust waived the reporting requirements for 2023. Reports on expenditures for the period from September 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023 must be submitted by March 15, 2024.
Examples:
- A county or subdivision received their first payment on August 31, 2022. This county or subdivision may request an extension when completing their first report (due by March 15, 2024) to use these funds by August 31, 2024.
- A county or subdivision received their second payment on December 30, 2022. This county or subdivision may request an extension when completing their first report (due by March 15, 2024) to use these funds by December 30, 2024.
While these first two extensions must be requested, they will automatically be granted. No further extensions will automatically be granted. If a county or subdivision has not expended the funds or requested an extension when completing their report, further funds will be withheld until the payee is found to be within compliance; after 6 months forfeiture of funds may occur. Note: for funds to be considered expended, they must be spent or committed with a signed contract or memorandum of understanding.
In addition to the annual report to the Trust, non-opioid related expenditures must be reported to the National Administrators every six months. The reporting periods are January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31. Any Participating Subdivision that spent settlement funds for non-opioid remediation purposes, must notify the Trust of the amount and purpose of the expenditure(s) within 90 days of the applicable reporting period.