County approves amendment to inmate medical services contract to expand MAT and nursing coverage

Pueblo County commissioners on Feb. 6 approved a third amendment to the county—s inmate medical services agreement with NafCare Incorporated to add nursing supervisory hours and increased staffing to support medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and mental-health services at the Pueblo County Detention Facility and Dennis Mayes Judicial Building.

The added hours take effect retroactively to Nov. 1 and apply through the 2025 calendar year, county staff said. The amendment was described in a presentation by Jeremy Bacher, operations commander and captain at the detention facility, who said the changes are meant to improve continuity of care while the county prepares a 2025 request for proposals for inmate medical services.

The amendment addresses daytime charge-nurse coverage and supervisory nursing hours and maintains a medical professional position the vendor had recommended eliminating. "Between mental health and our MAT care that we're providing in the facility, we do in fact need these things," Captain Jeremy Bacher said. He told commissioners that, in a recent snapshot, about 25% of the male inmate population and roughly 35% of the female population were enrolled in MAT and that about 90% of inmates reported some form of substance abuse to medical staff.

County attorneys and jail staff told the board the additional staffing has been budgeted for the coming contract cycle and that the county will issue an RFP next year for medical services that will consider the new detention facility on the boulevard. Commissioners offered praise for detention staff and expressed support for moving forward with the amendment.

A motion to approve the resolution passed by voice vote. The amendment applies retroactively to Nov. 1, 2024, and remains in effect through 2025; county staff said the county will solicit proposals for medical services next year and incorporate needs for the new jail facility in that procurement.