County board approves contracts, 22 FTE plan to shift jail medical services to hybrid model

Anoka County commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 7 to approve a package of contracts and staff additions intended to move correctional medical services to a hybrid model and increase county control over jail health operations.

The board approved a one-year medical direction contract (C0011882) with the Wilcox Group for medical direction to cover county correctional facilities, a temporary nursing contract (C0011878) with JK Medical Staffing for as-needed nursing coverage, and a jail mental-health contract (C0011879 with Canvas Health) for mental-health services connected to the jail. Commissioners also approved a staffing plan that adds 22 full-time equivalent positions to transition medical care in-house; the contracts and positions carry terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The board recorded the adopted change as a single motion (moved by Commissioner Brastad; seconded by Commissioner Jepsen) and approved each item by roll-call vote.

County officials said the hybrid model is intended to reduce long-term costs, improve service consistency and give the county greater operational control over jail healthcare. The contracts include: a medical-direction agreement with a maximum not-to-exceed budget for 2026, a temporary nursing-staffing contract for contingent coverage during the transition and a mental-health services agreement with a stated maximum amount adjusted on the record (corrected to $160,000). The board also approved adding the 22 FTE positions (nurses, nurse manager, licensed practical nurses and administrative support) that county staff said will allow more clinical control inside the jail. The board’s action authorizes staff and departments to implement the contract terms and hire the approved positions.