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Court approves opioid‑fund guardrail and process to expedite Applewhite treatment placements
Summary
Commissioners approved first amendments to opioid‑mitigation grants and authorized up to $100,000 (opioid settlement funds, three years) as a contingency to pay for prescription assistance so probationers can transfer from jail into Applewhite treatment beds; county staff and UHS said existing assistance programs (CareLink, Dispensary of Hope, 340B) will be used first.
Bexar County Commissioners on May 26 approved amendments to opioid‑mitigation grants and authorized staff to extend selected grant agreements. Separately, the court approved using up to $100,000 from the county’s opioid settlement fund over three years as a backstop to purchase prescriptions for probationers transitioning from the Adult Detention Center to the Applewhite recovery facility when other assistance options are unavailable.
Public Health Director Andre Guerrero and University Health pharmacy leadership outlined existing options — CareLink, Dispensary of Hope and 340B pricing — that UHS said will be used to secure medicines. UHS’s pharmacy chief described the hospital as a safety‑net provider that can stretch resources to support medication delivery. Chief Anderson (Applewhite) and the Office of Criminal Justice described a transfer flow aimed at moving eligible individuals from the jail to Applewhite within a targeted weekly schedule; the court approved the contingency funding and asked partners to report on program implementation and progress filling Applewhite beds.
The court also approved extension amendments for opioid mitigation grant agreements with several local providers (Pay It Forward; San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness; Therapeutic Justice Foundation) consistent with the county’s opioid settlement spending policy.
