Lea County approves medication-assisted treatment contract for detention center

The Lea County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement July 1 with Roadrunner Health Services to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for detainees at the Lea County Detention Center.

Detention Center Director Mr. Gallegos told the commission that the program is mandated by New Mexico’s Senate Bill 54 and applicable jail medical standards, and that MAT is designed to stabilize and, where appropriate, detoxify detainees using approved medicines such as buprenorphine (brand names referenced in the presentation included Suboxone and Subutex). He outlined staffing planned under the agreement—two nurses (2.1 FTE), a master-level counselor and a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner—and said the county intends to provide continuity of care and warm handoffs to community services upon release.

At the hearing Gallegos described expected per-detainee costs for daily medical services and medications (testimony cited daily medical cost of $52.10 and daily medication cost of $44.86 per detainee) and said the county anticipates serving up to about 60 detainees under the expansion. He said the program is budgeted and that funding will come from the county’s opioid-settlement fund.

Commissioners discussed treatment modalities, whether 12‑step programs could be integrated, and the contractor’s role. Mr. Gallegos said individual and group counseling, NA/AA components and warm handoffs are part of the plan. The commission approved the agreement by recorded vote.

The contract authorizes the county to stabilize detainees experiencing withdrawal, continue existing medications for detainees already engaged in treatment (bridging medications), and expand counseling services inside the facility, officials said.