Bishop leads congressional inquiry into victim compensation in 2012 meningitis outbreak

U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) led a bipartisan congressional call on Tuesday for an update on the disbursement of funds to victims of a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak tied to tainted injections.

Last fall, Bishop helped secure $40 million to compensate victims of the fungal meningitis outbreak. The tragedy, which resulted from tainted steroid injections distributed by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), led to 778 diagnosed cases of fungal meningitis and 76 deaths in 23 states.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office is overseeing victim compensation, and Bishop requested an update on the disbursement of the funds in a letter signed by 11 legislators, including U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Fred Upton (R-MI), Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN).

“We have a duty to continue fighting for the victims of this tragedy,” Bishop said. “That’s why my colleagues and I followed up with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office — to get a much needed update on the status of the disbursement of funds these families are owed. Five years after patients received these tainted steroid injections, their families remain in dire need of financial assistance. With all of the stress and mounting costs they face, time is of the essence. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office must treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.”

The letter notes that the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Justice agreed last year to set aside $40 million for a victims compensation fund. That fund is overseen by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

“While this is certainly progress, we remain steadfast in our commitment to seeing these claims processed and paid in a timely manner,” the letter states. “The victims — our constituents — continue to suffer as a result of the injections they received almost five years ago. This suffering need not be compounded by financial distress, but for far too many, their bills continue to go unpaid.”