Suwannee County moves to expand community paramedic program with opioid‑settlement funds
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Summary
Chief Miller briefed the board on a CORE initiative using opioid settlement dollars to expand community paramedics; the county was earmarked $775,000 in year one, asked to allocate about $467,000 to five full‑time positions, and commissioners gave consensus to proceed pending finalized contracts and a written sustainability plan.
Suwannee County commissioners on Nov. 18 gave staff a consensus to move forward with a CORE initiative that would use opioid‑settlement funds to expand the county’s community paramedic program.
Chief Miller told the board Suwannee County was earmarked $775,000 for year one and cited subsequent year allocations (about $387,000 in year two and lower amounts for years thereafter). He said the county seeks to partner with Lutheran Services — which manages funds for the state Department of Children and Families — and requested about $467,000 initially to fund five new full‑time positions to provide medical‑assisted treatment linkage, transitional dosing and longer follow‑up for people leaving emergency care.
Commissioners asked staff to return with a paper long‑term plan describing how the positions would be sustained after settlement funds diminish; Chief Miller said the program’s long‑term goal is for the crews to generate some revenue by performing interfacility transfers, vaccine clinics and other billable services. Commissioners also requested contract language be reviewed by the county attorney and asked that final contracts be brought back for formal approval.
The board authorized staff to continue negotiating the written agreement and indicated support for proceeding subject to attorney review and a final contract coming back to the board.