On Monday, June 17, 2024, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service (ODMHSAS) commissioner Allie Friesen was hit with a motion from Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond that proceeds with a settlement in a class action lawsuit against ODMHSAS that is not in the best interest of the state or the patients the agency serves.

In March of 2023, four individuals who were awaiting court-ordered mental health services served ODMHSAS with a class action lawsuit.

As the attorney for ODMHSAS, AG Drummond is tasked with representing the agency and negotiating the best deal for all four million Oklahomans. Instead, he has proposed a settlement agreement that saddles the department and the Oklahoma taxpayers with an uncapped settlement agreement that will require millions of additional dollars to be paid out over an unspecified amount of time as well as places new, unreasonable burdens on the agency.

Friesen explains that funds would be put to better use investing in preventative mental health services and programs that would keep individuals from ever making it to the justice system, “I took this job to transform the behavioral health system in Oklahoma. In order for that to happen, we have to use objective data to guide our decisions and understand the root cause of the problems we face. I am a staunch advocate of wise and purposeful investments.”

This settlement would take away needed money for treatment programs and would require the agency to spend upwards of $100 million to build and maintain hundreds of new forensic beds, despite data proving this to be unnecessary.

“My priority is ensuring access to high quality evidenced-based care for all Oklahomans,” said Friesen. “We have to accomplish this through partnership and honest and open communication. One should be afforded the opportunity to evaluate the data and the true needs of the citizens of Oklahoma before entering into an untimely settlement that is not in the best interest of the state or a good use of taxpayer dollars.”

Friesen added, “I am just a few months into this position and have not been given the chance to implement some changes that will already better our competency program. I respectfully ask the Attorney General to give me and this department the chance to do what is best for the people we serve.”

In the proposed settlement agreement, AG Drummond implies the Governor has endorsed this plan.

“The Attorney General is misrepresenting facts. I did not and will never agree to have Oklahomans foot the bill for a bad legal settlement,” said Governor Stitt. “We have to ask why the AG is forcing a settlement that will result in an immediate win for the plaintiffs’ attorneys at the expense of the Oklahoma taxpayers.”

“I brought in Allie Friesen because things at Mental Health were due for positive change, and she has brought that in short order. She is turning things around, and it makes no sense to saddle this agency with a bad settlement,” said Governor Stitt. “I hope AG Drummond will amend his settlement agreement and give Commissioner Friesen a chance to make a change in the behavioral health system.”