News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County has filed suit against Cedar Recovery and the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission trying to block a proposed methadone clinic.
In the suit filed in Putnam County Chancery Court, the county asks for judicial review of the facility approved by the commission in August. The final vote was 6-2 with commission members on record as saying they could consider very few factors in making the decision.
The suit argues the Cedar Recovery application did not meet state health standards on three levels. First, the Burgess Falls Road location was not beneficial to consumers due to its proximity to an elementary school. Second, the facility was not needed because there was no evidence of disproportionate opioid addiction in the Upper Cumberland. Third, the suit said quality concerns exist with Cedar Recovery, given the lack of evidence in weening patients from methadone.
The suit goes on to allege misleading material misstatements made in the application.
Putnam County asks a judge to block the clinic and file the entire record surrounding the Cedar Recovery case with the court. It further asks for a hearing on the matter.
The State Commission heard several hours of testimony, mostly against the proposed clinic, at the August meeting in Nashville. Cedar Recovery asked the state the approve the $2.5 million facility to serve the 12 counties of the Upper Cumberland.
Commission General Counsel Jim Christoffersen said state statue said need, quality, and consumer or patient advantage are the criteria the commission had to consider. Christoffersen said the commission also had to remember that federal law prohibits treating addicts any different from other patient seeking medical treatment.
