Spokane County, City outline expanded crisis services and use of opioid‑settlement funds

Spokane County Community Services and the City of Spokane presented coordinated plans to expand regional behavioral‑health crisis capacity and to direct opioid‑settlement dollars toward immediate treatment, long‑term housing and data improvements, county and city officials said during a community briefing.

Justin Johnson, Spokane County director of community services, said the county’s regional role includes contracting crisis care across six counties and paying for involuntary evaluation and detention services when state or Medicaid funding does not cover them. “For the purposes of Spokane County’s coverage for non‑involuntary treatment services, we cover the 5% [uninsured],” Johnson said, adding that the county also covers crisis services for everyone regardless of insurance.

The county and city emphasized that Medicaid and Medicare remain the primary funders of most services, and that local funds target gaps the state and commercial insurers do not cover. Maggie Yates, deputy city administrator for community safety, said Spokane recorded about 324 opioid‑related deaths last year and described the city’s emergency declaration and initial…