Committee approves new inmate‑healthcare contract after competitive RFP; Mercy and Wellpath among finalists

The Law and Government Committee voted Sept. 30 to authorize a new contract for inmate health care at the McHenry County correctional facility following a multi‑vendor procurement.

County staff said the sheriff’s office and county administrators led a competitive process, receiving five RFP responses and interviewing two finalists: Wellpath and Mercy. Mercy — a local health system that participated in the RFP process — does not include dental services in its proposal, which would require a separate procurement if the county selected Mercy. Wellpath, the current contractor, proposed a multi‑year offer the county said would be more predictable than a large mid‑year price increase the vendor sought last year.

Staff told the committee the current contract year is budgeted at about $2.4 million under the contract cap but that off‑site services and pharmaceutical expenses have pushed total costs toward $2.6 million in recent years. County staff said Wellpath had sought an $800,000 mid‑year increase last year; the county resisted that request and enforced the contract terms.

The approved contract begins Dec. 1, 2025, for two base years through Nov. 30, 2027, with two additional option years through Nov. 30, 2029, as presented in the meeting packet.

County staff described negotiating key provisions designed to limit the county’s exposure for off‑site services and pharmaceuticals. Mercy’s proposal included coverage of off‑site care without the prior off‑site cap in the existing contract, but staff said Mercy was less certain about long‑term participation because the health system proposed only a one‑year initial term to test the arrangement.

Why it matters: inmate health‑care costs are a significant county expense. The committee approved a contract designed to contain fiscal risk and preserve access to local hospital resources when clinically appropriate.

County officials said the procurement and negotiation process also produced leverage by creating competition among bidders and by prompting local health systems to consider participation in jail health care.

The resolution passed on a roll‑call vote.