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Board directs staff to negotiate with Medeco after inmate medical services RFP
Summary
After a competitive RFP, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors acknowledged Medeco Correctional Healthcare as the top-ranked proposer for inmate medical services and directed staff to begin contract negotiations and return with a final agreement for board approval on May 6.
San Benito County supervisors on April 22 acknowledged the results of a competitive request for proposals (RFP) for inmate medical services and directed staff to begin negotiations with Medeco Correctional Healthcare, the selection committee’s top-ranked proposer.
Sheriff Taylor and staff told the board that three firms submitted proposals and that Medeco "received a unanimous top ranking" from a five-member evaluation committee, with an average score of 930.8 out of 1,000. The county's report described Medeco’s proposal as offering 11.75 recommended full‑time equivalent positions (with a 10.25 baseline), a comprehensive 24‑hour scope of services including discharge planning and crisis response, and CalAIM compliance.
Sheriff Taylor summarized the procurement: "We had a total of 3 proposals come in ... Medeco received a unanimous top ranking." He asked the board to authorize staff to negotiate terms for a five‑year agreement and return to the board with a final contract on May 6. The board approved that direction on a 5-0 roll-call vote.
County staff said Medeco's proposed annual cost would be roughly $3.5 million under the recommended staffing plan and about $3.1 million under Medeco’s base proposal; other proposers came in at roughly $3.1 million and $3.0–$3.2 million. Sheriff staff recommended negotiating toward the recommended 11.75 FTE staffing level to ensure continuous coverage and to include a discharge planner — a role intended to pursue CalAIM and other billable revenue streams that did not previously flow to the county.
Janae Hopkins, a corrections analyst on the county team, explained the operational difference between the base and recommended staffing: the additional FTE supports night‑time medical coverage, juvenile facility coverage and a dedicated discharge planner, which staff said is central to capturing state and Medi‑Cal reimbursement under CalAIM.
Sheriff Taylor said the county has funding to cover the contract in the current and next fiscal year without general‑fund impact, noting a state award the county received that can be used to implement CalAIM-related discharge planning. He added that the county will pursue billing for eligible services going forward and that the contract is intended to reduce liability and avoid repeated piecemeal contract changes.
Dr. Olfog, Medeco’s chief physician, described the company’s experience and approach, emphasizing proactive, medically driven care and noting Medeco has operated for 28 years and submitted references across multiple facilities. "We do not take shortcuts and we do not provide inadequate level of staffing for our correctional facilities," he said.
The board voted unanimously to direct staff to negotiate with Medeco and return a proposed five‑year agreement (with optional extensions) for board consideration on May 6.
