Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Opioid Recovery Fund Uses
- What is the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund used for?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund must be used for one or more of the approved opioid abatement strategies established in the SC Opioid Settlement Allocation Agreement.
Learn more about the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund uses.
- What are the Core Strategies of the Opioid Recovery Fund?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund must be used for one or more of the following approved opioid remediation uses. The Core Strategies are given priority and include the following:
- Naloxone or Other FDA-Approved Drug to Reverse Opioid Overdoses,
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Distribution and Other Opioid-Related Treatment, Pregnant and Postpartum Women
- Expanding Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS),
- Expansion of Warm Handoff Programs and Recovery Services,
- Treatment for Incarcerated Population,
- Prevention Programs,
- Expanding Syringe Service Programs, and
- Evidence-Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Abatement Strategies within the State.
- What are the Approved Uses of the Opioid Recovery Fund?
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- Treatment;
- Prevention; and,
- Other Strategies.
Find detailed descriptions of the Opioid Recovery Fund Approved Uses.
- Are there restrictions on Opioid Recovery Funds?
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- Applications to the Guaranteed Political Subdivision Subfund and the Discretionary Subfund may only request funds for one year regardless of length of project. Funds must be expended within 12 months of receipt. For projects spanning more than 12 months, additional applications may be submitted each year as needed. While not all of the funds must be spent before reporting obligations are due to the Board, reports must describe in detail the status of the approved projects and all funds spent to date. Programmatic and fiscal reporting are based on the calendar year, January 1st – December 31st.
- SCORF funds must be keep separate from a recipient’s general funds. Records must be kept for all charges against the SCORF funds.
Applying for Funds
- How do I apply for Opioid Recovery Funds?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board (SCORF) is now accepting applications for SC Opioid Recovery Funds. The SCORF Board is accepting applications for the Guaranteed Political Subfunds (GPS) from 9/14/2023 through 10/15/2023.
- Who is eligible to apply for Opioid Recovery Funds?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board (SCORF) has established eligibility criteria for the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Funds.
Learn more about Eligibility for Funding
Learn more about and find full descriptions of each Opioid Recovery Fund approved abatement strategy.
- How do I check the status of my submitted application for Opioid Recovery Funds?
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Applications for Opioid Recovery Funds are assigned a unique Submission ID that will allow Applicants to check the status of an application.
- How much money is allocated to my political subdivision?
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South Carolina counties and municipalities who participated in opioid-related settlements (“Participating Political Subdivisions”) will be allocated funds from the Guaranteed Political Subdivision Subfund pursuant to percentages set forth in “Exhibit B” of the South Carolina Opioid Settlement Allocation Agreement. A Participating Political Subdivision’s available allocation will be calculated as payments are made to the State and based only on the opioid-related settlements in which that Participating Political Subdivision participates.
- What are evidence based practices?
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Evidence-based practice (EBP) in substance use prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery is an approach that uses research to guide clinical decision-making. It focuses on using techniques proven effective through research rather than personal preferences or anecdotal reports.
Please use links below to explore EBPs. These are not all inclusive.
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May the SCORF funds be used for matching or cost share funds
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There is no restriction regarding matching or cost sharing for the opioid settlement funds. SCORF funds must follow the settlement guidelines and the Board approval process and abide by the approved strategy(s) and implementation plan(s) of the submitted and approved application.
About the SCORF Board
- What does the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board do?
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The SCORF Board manages and disperses the opioid settlement funds within the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund for South Carolina.
- Who are the members of the SCORF Board?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board (SCORF Board) is comprised of nine members who are appointed and representative of the Upstate, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Low Country regions of South Carolina. All SCORF Board members must be academic, medical, licensed health, or other professionals with significant experience in opioid prevention, treatment, or intervention.
- What is the mission of the SCORF Board?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board (SCORF Board) was created by the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Act, SC Code §11-58-10 et seq., to administer and distribute the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund in accordance with the terms of settlement agreements resulting from In re South Carolina Opioid Litigation. Money from the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund will be distributed by the SCORF Board to help address and remediate the impact of the opioid epidemic in South Carolina.
- When does the SCORF Board meet?
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The SCORF Board holds at least four regular meetings each year and may hold additional meetings at the request of the Chair or written request of five other members of the SCORF Board. All meetings are open to the public, and public notice of meetings is given as required by State law.
- Does the SCORF Board publish reports?
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The SCORF Board develops metrics to evaluate the success of programs funded by the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund and publishes an annual report.
SCORF-Related Information and Resources
- How much was the U.S. opioid settlement?
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On February 25, 2022, the National Prescription Opiate Litigation Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee (PEC) finalized settlements totaling $26 billion with three of the nation’s top wholesale pharmaceutical drug distributors, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson, and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
- How much was the South Carolina opioid settlement?
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More than $360 million will be coming to South Carolina over the next 18 years.
- What is the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Act?
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The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Act, approved by Governor Henry McMaster on May 23, 2022, establishes the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund and the administration, accountability, and operation of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the In re South Carolina Opioid Litigation settlement agreement.
- What is the process for receiving funds once my application is approved?
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Process of disbursement of SCORF funds once the Board has approved an application:
Within 5 business days a letter of approval is generated and sent to the approved entity and submitted to the SFAA finance office.
SFAA finance then reviews and processes the request for release of funds to the Comptroller General’s Office. Once at the Comptroller General’s office, they have up to 30 days to review and issue a warrant to the State Treasurer’s office for release of funds.
If the Board approves an application with contingencies, the SCORF staff works with that entity to resolve the issue, once resolved the process above begins.