BayMark Health Services Inc., a leading provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across North America, has announced the BayMark Health Services acquisition of Fritz Clinic, a network of six office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) programs in Central and Northern Alabama. The deal, finalized on October 6, 2022, strengthens BayMark’s footprint in the region and aligns with the company’s broader mission of increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based care for individuals living with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Based in Lewisville, Texas, BayMark Health Services is one of the largest SUD treatment providers in the United States and Canada, operating more than 400 treatment facilities in 37 states and three Canadian provinces. This BayMark Health Services acquisition marks the company’s seventh announced deal in 2022 and demonstrates its continued growth under the ownership of Webster Equity Partners, a private equity firm that has made significant investments in the behavioral health space.
Expanding Access to Care in Alabama
Before this BayMark Health Services acquisition, the company already had four OBOT locations in Alabama listed on its website. The addition of Fritz Clinic’s six offices expands the company’s reach significantly, giving more individuals in Alabama access to comprehensive, office-based treatment for opioid addiction.
Fritz Clinic, known for its commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care, provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine and Suboxone. These evidence-based medications are proven to help reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, giving patients the stability needed to engage in recovery. Alongside MAT, Fritz Clinic offers counseling, care coordination, and telehealth services—an increasingly important component of treatment accessibility, particularly in rural or underserved areas.
BayMark Health acquired Fritz Clinic through its AppleGate Recovery subsidiary, which focuses on OBOT programs. Following the BayMark Health Services acquisition, Fritz Clinic will be rebranded under the AppleGate name, creating consistency across BayMark’s network while preserving the values and services that Fritz Clinic patients have come to rely on.
Shared Values: Quality, Accessibility, and Affordability
Michael Saul, executive vice president of BayMark Health Services, emphasized how well Fritz Clinic’s philosophy aligns with AppleGate Recovery’s approach:
“As our OBOT business has grown, we have focused on ensuring our patients receive the highest quality, most effective treatment options in an environment that is also convenient and affordable. Fritz Clinic shares those values and, similar to AppleGate Recovery, offers established patients the option of a telehealth service to make treatment more accessible.”
This alignment highlights the strategic importance of the BayMark Health Services acquisition, ensuring patients in Alabama benefit from both local expertise and the resources of a national leader in addiction treatment.
BayMark’s Growing OBOT Network
With the addition of Fritz Clinic, BayMark Health now operates more than 70 OBOT programs across 19 states. OBOT programs, which allow qualified providers to prescribe medications such as buprenorphine in office-based settings, have become a cornerstone of treatment for OUD.
Unlike traditional opioid treatment programs (OTPs), which often require daily visits for methadone dosing, OBOT programs offer more flexibility and accessibility. Patients can receive prescriptions and follow-up care in outpatient settings that fit into their daily lives. This BayMark Health Services acquisition therefore strengthens one of the company’s fastest-growing service lines.
By expanding its OBOT network, BayMark is reinforcing its commitment to offering a full continuum of care, from outpatient and office-based treatment to inpatient, residential, and detox services.
A Year of Strategic Growth
The acquisition of Fritz Clinic is just the latest in a string of strategic moves BayMark has made in 2022. In fact, this deal marks the seventh BayMark Health Services acquisition announced this year, reflecting the company’s aggressive growth strategy and focus on expanding access to treatment in diverse markets.
Here’s a closer look at BayMark’s 2022 acquisitions:
- Kaden Health – A virtual OUD treatment provider, acquired January 5, extending BayMark’s reach into digital care solutions.
- Lucina Treatment Centers – Outpatient OUD treatment provider with five offices in Central and Northeastern Indiana, acquired February 7.
- Mahajan Therapeutics – Outpatient mental health and addiction treatment provider with six offices in Southwest Ohio, acquired February 24.
- Pathfinders Recovery Center – Residential treatment facilities in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Aurora, Colorado, acquired March 4.
- Emerald Isle Health and Recovery – Residential treatment provider in Surprise, Arizona, also acquired March 4.
- San Antonio Recovery Center – Residential treatment program in San Antonio, Texas, acquired July 26.
- Fritz Clinic – Outpatient OUD treatment provider with six offices in Alabama, acquired October 6.
Each BayMark Health Services acquisition strengthens the company’s ability to deliver a comprehensive, integrated treatment network spanning office-based, outpatient, residential, and virtual care.
Looking Ahead
As the opioid crisis continues to evolve, providers like BayMark Health Services are playing a critical role in shaping the future of addiction treatment. The BayMark Health Services acquisition of Fritz Clinic represents not only an expansion of physical locations but also an investment in accessibility, quality, and innovation in care delivery.
By strengthening its presence in Alabama and continuing to build its OBOT network nationwide, BayMark is positioning itself as a leader in the fight against opioid addiction—one that recognizes the importance of both local access and national scale.
For patients, families, and communities across Alabama, the integration of Fritz Clinic into the AppleGate Recovery brand offers new hope and expanded opportunities for recovery.
