Case Study: Sauk County achieves 81% drop in illicit opioid use and improved care coordination with Netsmart

Sauk County - Customer Case Study

Sauk County, Wisconsin, faced an alarming rise in opioid-related deaths and lacked local treatment capacity. County leaders — including law enforcement, hospital staff, public health and schools — pursued a SAMHSA grant to expand access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for high-risk groups in rural communities.

With grant funding, Tellurian and Sauk/Columbia County launched the MATRS program: rapid-access MAT with behavioral therapy, 24/7 community recovery specialists, provider training and a Netsmart EHR for coordinated care. The program grew provider capacity quickly, treated 253 clients, and delivered strong outcomes — illicit opioid use down 81%, drug abstinence up 105%, readmission just 15%, and nearly half of participants making satisfactory recovery progress.

Sauk County

Sharon Boesl

Deputy Director of Sauk County Department of Human Services