Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jail Health Reentry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County expands jail health and reentry services with Compass contracts funded by mental-health and 1115 funds
Summary
Kittitas County commissioners reviewed contract amendments and a new agreement to expand medical staffing and reentry services in the county jail, funded by the county mental-health tax and Washington State 1115 Medicaid reentry initiative.
Kittitas County commissioners on May 6 approved contract actions to expand medical and reentry services in the county jail, including an amendment to a professional services agreement with Compass Health and a new contract with Compass Direct Health Care to fund a civilian medical-assistant position.
County staff said funding for the Compass Health amendment comes from the county’s 0.1% mental-health sales tax and will pay for additional weekend nursing coverage to reduce delays in care for incarcerated people, covering assessments and treatment coordination. Staff said remaining earmarked funds are available through 2027 for these services.
A separate new contract with Compass Direct Health Care is tied to Washington State’s 1115 Medicaid reentry initiative. Lieutenant Bond of the sheriff’s office described the position as a civilian medical-assistant who will work with the county’s pre-reentry staff to establish insurance eligibility, coordinate managed-care services and targeted case management, and help ensure medications and follow-up appointments are in place at release.
Commissioners expressed support for the programs; the items were presented as operational contracts and proceeded without objection.
