Lycoming County prison board approves adding methadone to jail medication program

The Lycoming County Prison Board voted to approve an expansion of the jail’s medication-assisted treatment program to include methadone, prison officials said during the board meeting.

Board members approved the expansion by voice vote. Prison staff said the county had already been providing buprenorphine and is now adding methadone; the expansion is paid for with opioid settlement funds.

The change is intended to broaden treatment options available to people while incarcerated. A prison official told the board that the jail had worked with West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission and Williamsport Family Medical to expand services. “This is not something that's across the state yet, but most of the counties are working towards getting there,” the prison official said.

A judge who spoke during discussion noted a limitation on continuity of coverage outside the jail: “New people aren't coming on to any Medicaid. It's just if they're incarcerated, they'll just be able to withdraw,” the judge said, describing how Medicaid enrollment rules affect post-release coverage.

Officials said the county is using opioid settlement funds to pay for the methadone expansion. No new county appropriation was listed in the meeting materials.

Board members and staff described the expansion as part of a broader effort to provide treatment in custody and improve continuity of care after release by coordinating with community partners.

No ordinance, statute, or court order was cited as requiring this change; officials described it as a programmatic expansion funded by settlement proceeds.