Settlement with drug companies could boost budget

JACKSON — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says he hopes a new $20-million boost to the state from a pharmaceutical lawsuit will go to mental health services.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Johnny Stringer agrees with the idea. He says the budget just happens to be short $20 million and that the funds would help support community mental health centers.

The funds come from recently settled litigation over Medicaid fraud and consumer protection violations with four drug companies: GlaxoSmithKline; Aventis; Schering/Warring; and, Mylan.

Hood says putting the money into the mental health budget would help resolve the mental-health crisis and prevent future lawsuits against the state.

Source: The Associated Press