Spokane — County detention services staff on Tuesday asked the Spokane County Board of Commissioners to place on next week’s consent agenda a one‑month extension of Everhealth’s jail medical services contract through Jan. 31, 2026, to allow transition planning to a newly selected vendor.

Ken, a detention services speaker, said the extension will provide roughly six weeks for the incoming vendor and county staff to coordinate staffing, technology and continuity of care. “We’d indicated that, you know, it would be wise to extend Everhealth beyond their originally planned 12/31/25 termination date,” Ken said.

County negotiators said Everhealth agreed to limit the short‑term price change to a 20% increase for the extension. County staff estimated the extension would add about $240,000 of cost in January; after typical monthly staffing credits, they estimated a net additional impact in the $160,000 range that the detention services budget could accommodate in 2026. Jon Folsom (Finance/Administration staff present during the briefing) confirmed the county can absorb the difference as a one‑time budget impact.

The extension request accompanies near‑final negotiations with a prospective replacement vendor discussed in briefing as Madiko/Vadico/Medico (vendor name used in presentation). County leaders said the prospective vendor is conducting outreach to incumbent Everhealth staff, and that roughly 40 of about 50 current medical staff have applied to continue working under the new provider, which county negotiators described as supporting operational continuity.

County staff said they will present the formal extension for approval on the consent agenda next week and bring the replacement vendor contract for review at the same meeting. The briefing team emphasized the extension is intended to avoid a disruptive year‑end transition in staffing and medical coverage.

If commissioners approve the extension on consent, the county will execute a short‑term amendment with Everhealth and continue contract negotiations with the incoming vendor before operational changeover.