County signs year-long agreement to fund in‑county substance‑use clinicians under opioid settlement funds

The commissioners voted July 21 to sign a one‑year agreement, funded with opioid settlement revenue, to support in‑county substance‑use clinicians and programming run through court services. Judge Day (presenting) told the board that Hickory Recovery Services previously provided clinicians who met with people in court services and wellness court, billing insurance when possible and treating uninsured clients without charge. Hickory stopped pursuing a long-term arrangement, and clinicians moved to an entity the judge identified as Ascension Recovery Services. Judge Day asked the board to sign a memorandum of understanding and to provide $60,000 to support the program. Judge Day said $30,000 would be paid up front because the new provider would begin services while insurance-billing processes were arranged; the remaining $30,000 would be paid over the following 11–12 months. The agreement, he said, is not intended as payment for past services but to fund ongoing clinical services at court services and to ensure no client is turned away for inability to pay. County legal review was reported as completed without substantive issues, and commissioners voted, with a motion and a second, to sign the contract and authorize funding.