The Wabash County Board discussed a funding request involving the county’s opioid settlement dollars. The Wabash Community Health Center is seeking $10,497 to help establish a new medication-assisted treatment program for individuals battling opioid addiction.
Health Department administrator Judy Wissel explained that patients receiving their first dose of treatment must remain on-site for several hours so medical staff can monitor their response and determine the correct dosage. To accommodate that, the Health Center hopes to convert one of its rooms into a private, comfortable waiting area. The proposal includes installing hospital-style curtain tracks, adding privacy dividers, providing a comfortable chair, and supplying an iPad for patient use.
Hospital staff, including Dr. Patel and the nurse practitioners, are prepared to begin the program immediately, and county leaders were told clients are already waiting to enroll.
However, board members questioned whether the requested items qualify under the state’s strict guidelines for opioid settlement spending. Detailed reports must be filed to verify all expenditures meet state requirements.
County officials agreed the program is important, but without full confirmation they chose to proceed cautiously. The board voted to table the request until the next meeting while additional documentation is gathered and reviewed by the State’s Attorney.
The motion to table passed unanimously.