Commissioners approve 5-month contract for jail medical provider

Ken de la Bastide, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
·2 min read

May 22—ANDERSON — The Madison County Commissioners Wednesday voted to approve a five-month contract with Comprehensive Correctional Care, a Kentucky based company.

Sheriff John Beeman said the contract includes providing medical services to the Madison County Community Corrections Complex and the juvenile center.

"We have the funding in place through Oct. 31," Beeman said.

Beeman is requesting additional funding in the amount of $220,664 from the Madison County Council to pay the cost of medical care through the end of the year.

He said if approved the one-year contract that would take effect on Nov. 1 will cost $1.3 million annually. The 2024 budget for medical care is $940,000.

Beeman said if the council denies the funding request a new contract would have to be negotiated.

Blake Wiseman with Comprehensive Correctional Care said the company provides services to 35 jails in Kentucky and five in Indiana.

He said the company has hired staff to take over medical care in Madison County starting on June 1. Wiseman said the company hires certified nurses.

The company will provide 24-hour nursing care and has a doctor on call around the clock.

There will be a weekly visit by a doctor and the company hires a med tech 12 hours a day, seven days a week to dispense medications. The company also provides mental health services.

Beeman said with new medical equipment purchased for the jail there, should be a reduction in some medical costs in the future.

Commissioner John Richwine said the county council has to approve the funding for a long-term contract.

"By the end of June, we will know if the Sheriff got the funding," he said.

Wiseman said if the commissioners didn't approve the five-month contract, there would be no medical services at the jail.

"We've been in business for five years and never lost a contract," Wiseman said.

He said future contracts would be negotiated with county officials on any price increase.

Richwine said the termination letter with the current medical provider should not have been sent before a new contract was approved with the necessary funding.

"We're left with no choice," he said. "Approve the contract for five months with a 60-day provision to terminate the contract."

Richwine said if the council doesn't approve the funding for the contract the county would have to restart the bid process for a medical provider at the jail.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.