After launching a collaboration in 2023 to supply digital opioid use dysfunction assist to these transitioning out of prisons, Bicycle Well being, Wellpath and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) have signed a further one-year contract with the choice to increase one other two years.
Boston-based Bicycle Well being is a digital supplier of remedy for opioid use dysfunction, whereas Nashville, Tennessee-based Wellpath is a medical and psychological well being supplier that serves susceptible sufferers, together with those that are in prisons and jails.
By the collaboration, Wellpath works with FBOP’s residential reentry facilities and may refer these combating opioid use dysfunction to Bicycle Well being. Residential reentry facilities assist individuals transition again into society after incarceration.
“This new contract underscores the impression of this program for just lately launched adults in custody,” mentioned Wendy Dunegan, vp of Wellpath, in a press release. “We’ll now have the ability to supply Bicycle Well being’s digital MOUD care mannequin to this affected person inhabitants nationwide, increasing entry to modern, results-driven look after a inhabitants very accustomed to the harmful results of opioid use – and the difficult path towards restoration.”
Bicycle’s companies embody remedy, peer assist teams and medicines for opioid use dysfunction, which will help with withdrawal signs, stop overdose and assist long-term restoration. The corporate additionally has specialised care coordinators who’re educated to work with these leaving incarceration and solely work with Wellpath sufferers.
This type of assist is very important for these leaving incarceration, in keeping with Ankit Gupta, Bicycle Well being CEO & founder. About one in 5 adults in custody battle an opioid use dysfunction, and the main reason behind dying for these reentering society is opioid overdose.
“As sufferers transition from custody into group placements like residential reentry facilities after which, ultimately, again into society independently, they’re at a heightened threat of relapse, overdose, and recidivism,” he mentioned in an electronic mail. “Enabling these sufferers to obtain care by way of a digital remedy program like Bicycle Well being’s helps scale back these dangers whereas rising their entry to care that’s versatile sufficient to comply with them all through the completely different phases of their launch.”
Bicycle Well being and Wellpath are already having an impression. Since they started working with this inhabitants in 2023, they’ve supported 2,640 sufferers residing in 139 residential reentry facilities in 45 states.
Gupta added that via this collaboration, he hopes to indicate how “digital [opioid use disorder] remedy suppliers like Bicycle Well being enhance entry to look after sufferers within the prison justice system, whereas serving as a blueprint for future digital OUD remedy applications that bridge gaps in look after extra adults in custody throughout the U.S.”
One other firm that gives digital opioid use dysfunction assist to these reentering society after incarceration is Boulder Care, although this firm focuses on Washington, Oregon and Ohio, whereas Bicycle Well being serves individuals nationally.
Photograph: mikdam, Getty Pictures
