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Spencer County court agrees to pursue NET Recovery program using opioid settlement funds, pending procurement review
Summary
The Spencer County Fiscal Court voted to pursue a $27,500 agreement with NET Recovery to provide NET Device–assisted detox for up to five county residents, using opioid-settlement funds and subject to Division of Local Government and county attorney review to confirm procurement compliance.
Jeff Lott, director of communications for NET Recovery, told the Spencer County Fiscal Court on Aug. 19 that his company’s FDA‑cleared NET Device is intended to reduce opioid‑withdrawal symptoms and allow residents to engage in residential detox and follow‑up services.
Lott outlined the SOBER (Social Benefits of Recovery) program, saying participating residents would be prescreened and admitted to Isaiah House for residential treatment and then receive NET stimulation provided by trained staff. He said the proposed cost is $5,500 per participant and that the county’s $27,500 request is intended to cover treatment for five people and data collection to assess social outcomes over 12 months.
The county heard a first‑hand account from a woman identified only as Rebecca, who described detoxifying with the device during a prior program. Judge/Executive Scott Travis and magistrates asked about eligibility screening, the role of local EMS and law enforcement in referrals, and whether the vendor was Medicaid‑certified. Lott acknowledged NET Recovery was not yet Medicaid‑certified and said participating counties would use settlement funds for the pilot while Isaiah House would manage its own service costs.
Magistrate Zack Cotton and others pressed procurement questions. County staff and a court member (Ms. Winn) emphasized that any contract must "conform with the procurement laws" and would require approval from the Kentucky Division of Local Government (DLG) because NET Recovery would be a sole‑source provider unless a competitive procurement were completed.
Esq. Stump moved that Fiscal Court pursue an agreement with NET Recovery for $27,500 (aimed at enrolling five people) using opioid‑settlement funds, pending review and approval by DLG and the County Attorney and with EMS, deputy sheriff and designated staff participation in eligibility decisions. Esqs. Eldridge and others agreed to add language about procurement compliance. The court approved the motion by voice vote, with all members present voting aye.
The county did not commit final funds pending DLG procurement clearance and the county attorney’s approval. The next steps identified by the court included coordinating eligibility pathways with EMS and law enforcement and having county counsel and DLG review the procurement justification.
The motion passed at the Aug. 19 meeting; implementation and participant selection will proceed only after the required legal and administrative reviews.
