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Commissioners approve amendment to inmate medical contract, staff to present consultant reassignment next meeting
Summary
The board approved Amendment No. 1 to the county's contract with Heritage Health Solutions to add Indiana statutory pricing language; commissioners were also notified that a medical consultant contract will be reassigned to Heritage and will be on a future agenda.
The Morgan County Commissioners on April 7 approved an amendment to the county’s inmate medical contract with Heritage Health Solutions to add language required by Indiana law governing payment rates for inmate medical costs.
The amendment (Amendment No. 1 with Attachment B) clarifies that, per state statute enacted in 2012, the county’s statutory obligation for inmate medical payments is to pay the Medicaid rate plus 4 percent unless a lower negotiated rate is agreed. The amendment’s purpose, presenters said, is to put that statutory pricing approach explicitly into the contract language.
Sheriff’s Office representative David (presenting the annual jail inspection and operations report) explained the background: when the county shifted medical operations to Heritage it had inherited multiple individual service arrangements that omitted specific Indiana statutory language. “In Indiana… the Sheriff is obligated to pay Medicare or Medicaid plus 4%,” he said, adding that Heritage typically negotiates rates at or below that statutory level.
Commissioner Adams moved to approve Amendment No. 1 and Attachment B; Commissioner Collier seconded. The motion carried, 3-0.
In a related matter staff told the board the county’s medical consultant — who helps with compliance, nursing training and policy — has become an employee of Heritage and has requested reassignment of an existing consultant contract to Heritage. County counsel and staff said that reassignment requires board approval and that the reassignment item will appear on a subsequent meeting agenda. Staff emphasized the reassignment would not change contract terms, only the entity receiving payment.
Ending: The amendment to the Heritage contract passed 3-0. Commissioners asked staff to place the consultant reassignment item on the next meeting agenda and indicated they will review related contract terms when it returns.
