The Worcester County Commissioners meeting on October 7, 2025, focused on a significant request from the county jail regarding medical services. The jail is seeking to extend its current medical services contract with Wellpath and transition to a new vendor, CFG Health Systems, under a proposed five-year agreement.

The current contract with Wellpath is set to expire on June 30, 2025, with an annual renewal cost of $1,899,000 for fiscal year 2026. In contrast, CFG Health Systems has submitted a cost proposal of $1,799,000 for the first year, with incremental increases in subsequent years—3.75% in year two, 3.25% in year three, and 1.75% in years four and five. This proposal includes a flat rate based on an average daily population of 132 inmates, with additional charges of $3.17 per day for each incarcerated individual if the population exceeds this average.

CFG Health Systems will provide comprehensive medical care, including 24-hour services and specialized in-house treatments such as dental and podiatry care. They will also cover non-mental health-related hospitalizations and all medications, excluding methadone. To ensure a smooth transition to CFG Health Systems, the jail is requesting an extension of the current contract with Wellpath until December 1, 2025, at an estimated cost of $129,000 per month.

The discussion highlighted the benefits of having in-house medical services, which would reduce the need for transportation of inmates to external medical appointments, thereby improving efficiency and safety. The commissioners are expected to review the proposals and make a decision in the coming weeks, which will impact the jail's medical service delivery and budget for the next several years.