Wichita County hears CoreHealth proposal to continue jail medical services in 2026

CoreHealth executives told the Wichita County Commissioners Court on Sept. 16 that the company seeks renewal to continue providing jail medical services in 2026 and outlined cost, staffing and operational details for the court to consider.

CoreHealth founder and CEO Todd Murphy said the company’s contract is currently based on a population level the company described as about 550 inmates and that the jail population has risen in recent days; Murphy said the morning census was 646, while another speaker said 593 were physically at the Law Enforcement Center. "It costs more to do more," Murphy said, describing higher labor and clinical demands as the population grows.

CoreHealth emphasized three operational points for commissioners: (1) a vacancy rebate the company will issue for unfilled positions, (2) lower off‑site transport rates through telemedicine and e‑consult programs, and (3) claims and utilization management that CoreHealth says has reduced billed hospital costs for other county clients.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they will weigh CoreHealth’s services, transparency and costs against alternatives, including a proposal from Texas Tech University scheduled for a future meeting. The county must balance continuity of care, liability…