Chris, speaking for the Attorney General's Office, told the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board that settlement work is moving forward on multiple fronts and that the state should see a modest increase in naloxone available for distribution.
"Don't get too excited, but there is going to be a little bit of extra naloxone being able to be made available through that program," Chris said, referring to additional naloxone coming via settlements with secondary manufacturers in addition to prior Teva deliveries that staff said were completed earlier in the year.
He reported progress finalizing a Purdue settlement and negotiations with eight secondary manufacturer defendants; some national-level steps remain before local distributions are final. Chris also said that Kansas continues to be a national voice on guidance for opioid-expenditure rules and that other states have looked to Kansas' guidance.
On grant administration, Chris said amendments to the memorandum of understanding with Sunflower have been executed, which will allow for-profit entities to be eligible for grants administered through Sunflower when the board is ready to issue those grants.
Chris read language from a FY2026 budget proviso that encourages the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board to approve any grant application submitted by the State Board of Pharmacy to fund continuing a gateway function that integrates K-TRACS (the state's prescription monitoring program) into electronic health record and pharmacy systems. Staff said no K-TRACS grant application had been submitted as of the meeting.
On naloxone logistics, staff confirmed DECA operates the state naloxone program and holds a contract to acquire and distribute naloxone statewide, which staff described as an efficient channel for distribution to counties and municipalities.
Chris also noted that the legislature adopted measures relating to naloxone expiration-date extensions and a school naloxone program; he said the expiration-date extension had been signed by the governor "I believe yesterday," and that he would double-check whether the school naloxone program had also been signed; staff emphasized the legislative actions were passed and that implementation planning would follow.
Why it matters: Additional naloxone and clarified distribution pathways can support emergency response and community-level access. The budget proviso and MOU changes also shape which entities may apply for KFA funding and indicate legislative interest in integrating prescription monitoring into clinical systems.