Kittitas County Jail Project Narative for Opioid Settlement Funding Request 3-2026 (updated)

Home Browse Search

option for sustained funding for the jail to continue this programming that is much needed and utilized. The jail continues to look for other funding opportunities to offset this cost, including being one of the flrst jails to go live with the 1115 Waiver, but even with that in place the reimbursed rates and individuals who need MOUD that are not covered by this Medicaid initiative, there is a gap in the needed funds to ensure that we continue to offer the level of service we have been and have been recognized for. The requested $655,828.49 (see attached spreadsheet) is small in comparison to continue a successful program compared to the average cost of a lawsuit because of a death in custody. Trends over the last two years in Washington State have indicated that counties are paying no less than two million dollars to families who have sued because their loved one died in a jail due to withdrawals from opioids. These same trends also show an increase in Medical Services for carceral facilities and an even higher cost to the insurance to provide these services. Although this programming doesn’t “guarantee” a facility completely from having a death in custody, or even other major medical events, by someone who is incarcerated, it does offer additional protections and processes to lower the chances of something fatally happening. The jail has put into place other programs, devices and processes to increase safety and care of those incarcerated in our jail. The reason the jail is asking for funds only through 2027 at this time is because we are still determining what the reimbursement from 1115 Medicaid will be since we have not completed an entire year, as well as hope that state and federal funding will again become available to help offset these costs for rural counties like ours with sustained, successful programming with smaller budgets. Attached is a budget for the second half of 2026 and all of 2027 for MOUD services. These numbers are based on current contracts with the appropriate rise in wages/beneflts in 2027 per CompassDirect Healthcare (our current medical provider team). For 2026, the current funding/contract for the swing shift nurse ends at the end of the State flscal year on June 30th because it’s currently paid out of the HCA MOUD/MAUD in Jails funding, so the budget line is broken out for six months. The other two lines on the budget are just an additional quarter (4) of costs equal to what we are currently paying for CompassDirect’s services from DOJ COSSUP funding. However, all costs included in 2027 are broken out and include additional costs that have been requested to continue the program with them. The following paragraphs will explain each roll broken down on the spreadsheet to understand the position/fee and purpose in the jail requesting this. The MOUD Prescriber is the medical staff that comes to the facility, multiple times a week, and completes the necessary assessment, treatment, and follow up for those who seek MOUD treatment in the jail. Although the nurses may triage individuals requesting this