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Coffey County staff outline jail intake, medical-billing repricing as new facility begins operations
Summary
County staff told commissioners the new Coffey County jail began receiving inmates and that inmate medical bills are being repriced through an affiliate of Wellpath; staff said the county is pursuing agreements with outside agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, to increase use of the facility.
County staff told the Coffey County Commission during a regular meeting that the county's new jail facility began accepting inmates after the move in late July and that the county is handling inmate medical billing through a repricing vendor.
A county staff member explained that when inmates receive hospital care the county receives the hospital bill and the sheriff's office may negotiate the price. "We use a company called Wellpath, and then Wellpath, this is the affiliate company that they're the actual company that does the repricing for us," the staff member said during the meeting. The staff member said repricing can reduce billed charges to the Medicaid rate in some cases and showed an example where a $175 charge was adjusted down to a Medicaid-level amount.
Officials also discussed invoices tied to the jail: a July inmate-meal invoice listed $1,237 as the charge for the billing period shown in the meeting packet. Commissioners asked staff how Correct Care Solutions and hospital billing interact with the jail's medical care contracts; staff said Correct Care Solutions is involved in jail medical services and that hospital bills can be repriced after submission.
Commissioners and staff reported the county moved inmates into the new facility on July 22, and that the county has been working through startup issues typical of new buildings. Staff said the front vestibule and certain locking mechanisms remain under warranty work and wiring diagrams are awaited for some fixes.
County leaders said they are seeking to place outside detainees at the new facility and are in discussions with outside agencies. The staff member said Coffey County has been in contact with the U.S. Marshals Service to arrange the required intergovernmental inspection and that representatives visited the facility; the transcript also records that an individual identified in the meeting as Derek Schmidt visited the facility. Commissioners said they also expect visits by the state attorney general's office to review the facility.
No formal motions or votes on contracting or new intergovernmental agreements were recorded in the transcript. Commissioners said they are continuing negotiations and inspections before executing intergovernmental agreements to house inmates for other jurisdictions and federal agencies.
Ending: Staff said they will continue warranty work and follow up on outstanding items, and commissioners said they will proceed with arranging inspections and potential intergovernmental agreements once the required inspections and approvals are complete.
