Dennis Scanlon, distinguished professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, led a team of researchers who aided the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in determining how to allocate the funds. Now, the team has published a new website providing detailed, county-level information about how the opioid settlement funds are being used across the Commonwealth.

In the United States, health care costs an average of $14,000 per person per year, but many other factors — like where you live and how much you sleep — have a bigger impact on your health. To invest tax dollars where they will have the greatest impact, government agencies need to gather data that reveals the true costs and benefits of the programs, according to Dennis Scanlon. 

A new study, led by Jeannette Rogowski, professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, found that where a very preterm baby is born or receives care immediately after birth can increase or decrease the chance of survival by two percentage points. The team's findings demonstrate potential for quality improvement among the nation’s neonatal intensive care units in health systems.