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Substance Abuse Center of Kansas outlines plan to add medical detox beds, seeks local support
Summary
Leaders of the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas and Comcare presented a plan to expand medical detox capacity in Wichita, including increasing detox and sobering beds, staffing 24/7 nursing and a medical director, and said the project needs about $752,000 in startup funds against a roughly $1.64 million budget.
Leaders from the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas (SAC) and Comcare presented to the KFA board (virtual meeting; date not specified) a plan to expand detox and crisis-stabilization services in Wichita and asked the board to consider support as the project advances.
Chad Harmon, chief executive officer of the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas, and Jennifer Wilson, director of crisis services, described a collaborative center that currently co-locates crisis services and social detox. They said the model has a "no wrong door" approach and draws clients from around the state. Harmon said the center admitted more than 600 people to its detox unit in 2024 and that admissions came from roughly 20 counties.
The presenters outlined a plan to expand medical capabilities and bed capacity: increase sobering beds from eight to 10, convert and increase social detox beds from 15 to 26 and add medical staffing so the center can manage acute withdrawal (which staff referred to as "acute detox" or medical detox) and bill Medicaid for those services. Jennifer Wilson said the organization would need 24/7 nursing coverage and an on-call medical director; SAC estimated startup costs of about $1,640,000, with a funding gap of roughly $752,000 after existing local and state contributions.
Presenters listed current funding streams that help sustain operations: the City of Wichita contributes $150,000 from a liquor tax; KDADS provides a $500,000 pass-through to offset costs; SAC bills about $242,000 to a block grant; Comcare and Sedgwick County provide in-kind space without charging rent or utilities. Harmon said converting to a medical model would allow billing to Medicaid and commercial insurers, improving sustainability compared with the social-detox model that cannot be billed to Medicaid.
Staff and board members discussed clinical limits and safety. Jennifer Wilson said medical detox would allow clinicians to provide medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, monitor vitals, and determine whether hospital transfer is needed; she clarified that people with life-threatening withdrawal would still be sent to hospitals. Presenters cited program indicators from 2024: 24 clients sent to hospitals for withdrawal-related medical care, 12 walkouts due to inability to receive medical assistance, and about 10 percent of non-admissions related to blood-alcohol levels above 0.3.
Board members and staff voiced interest in the collaborative approach and in exploring funding opportunities. Several members noted similar efforts in other counties and a nearby multi-agency homeless center that will include SAC and Comcare as partners. No formal board funding decision was taken at the meeting; presenters requested the board consider the project in future funding rounds.
