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DOC seeks new MAT prescribers, proposes converting contract line to FTEs and highlights 340B and 1115 waiver savings
Summary
The Department requested conversion of a drug‑and‑alcohol contract line to personal‑services FTEs to expand medication‑assisted treatment and described cost avoidance from 340B and patient‑assistance programs and plans to implement Medicaid 1115 waiver billing for reentry services under SB 25308.
The Department of Corrections asked the Joint Budget Committee to allow conversion of a contract services line into personal‑services funding so the department can hire clinicians to deliver medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) inside facilities.
"We have a sub line for drug and alcohol contract services for personal services to go to outside medical services," said Mitch Carsons. He explained external contractors have been difficult to use behind facility walls and the department requests the ability to hire roughly 3.7 FTE to provide MAT and related supports.
Lacey Munday, director of clinical services, said the conversion would enable hiring of 1 physician and 1 mid‑level prescriber plus scheduling support. "We could expand our medication assisted treatment. Unfortunately, we don't have enough staff to meet the needs of the MAT program," Munday said, adding that providers are currently fully staffed in the MAT program but additional prescribers are needed to scale services.
Munday also described cost‑avoidance from the federal 340B drug pricing program and other patient assistance programs: she said earlier fiscal‑year figures showed millions in savings and that an updated four‑month figure provided yesterday indicated roughly $8 million in estimated cost avoidance. She also briefed the committee on progress implementing a Medicaid 1115 waiver, which will permit billing for certain pre‑release benefits including up to 90 days of MAT pre‑release and 30 days post‑release; Munday said general‑fund savings from federal match will be deposited into the reentry services cash fund created under Senate Bill 25308.
Committee members sought clarity about whether expiring grants will shift costs to the general fund; Munday said grant funding has supplemented the external contract line historically and that Medicaid gains were the largest source of savings but the department does not expect the conversion to meaningfully increase general‑fund costs going forward.
Next steps: DOC will provide committee members with details about grant timelines and the department's assumptions for future grant availability and general‑fund exposure.
