Christian County renews coroner autopsy contract with Southwest Missouri Forensics

The Christian County Commission on March 27 approved a one-year renewal of RFP 2023-2, the countys competitive contract for forensic autopsy and pathology services, awarding the renewal to Southwest Missouri Forensics.

The contract was originally competitively bid in 2023 with two proposals submitted, and Southwest Missouri Forensics was judged the best value. Janine, speaking for the coroners office, said this would be the second contract renewal and recommended renewing the contract with Southwest Missouri Forensics for an additional year. "The contract was competitively bid in 2023 with 2 proposals received, and Southwest Missouri Forensics was the overall best and most pricing," Janine said.

Janine told commissioners the renewal consolidates several discrete line items into a single bundled fee so that "every autopsy will cost the same," and that the change does not add separate charges for services such as X-rays. The coroners office representative said the prior billing had waited on invoices from outside vendors and the new arrangement standardizes the countys per-autopsy charge.

Commissioners moved and seconded the renewal and voted in favor; Presiding Commissioner Glenn Morris, Western Commissioner Johnny Williams and Eastern Commissioner Bradley Jackson recorded "aye." The commission did not discuss a detailed per-autopsy dollar amount at the meeting and no formal budget adjustment was presented.

The renewal preserves continuity of forensic services for the coroners office while standardizing billing, the coroners office said. The contract renewal and vote were recorded on the meeting record.

The commission proceeded to other business after approving the renewal.