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Wilson County renews jail medical-services contract with 4% price increase
Summary
The commissioners renewed the county's contract with Southern Health Partners for jail medical services, approving a 4% increase that sets the base annualized fee at $209,444.52 and adds a per-diem rate for inmate counts above 150; Sheriff Stewart said performance has improved under the current contractor.
Wilson County Commissioners on Aug. 12 approved a renewal contract with Southern Health Partners to provide medical services at the county jail, accepting a 4% price increase for the 2024–25 contract period.
County Auditor Brenda Trevino presented the renewal and said the new base annual fee for the contract period would be $209,444.52, with a per-diem surcharge of $1.48 for inmate counts exceeding 150. Trevino said the contract letter outlining the price change was dated in June and that the county had not solicited competing bids for nursing services during the sheriff’s tenure.
Sheriff Stewart described improved operations since changes in medical staffing and said he has been "real happy with them," adding that quarterly reports showed more complete inmate physicals and better overall handling. The sheriff also told commissioners no other vendors had solicited him for jail medical services in recent years.
Commissioners voted to approve the contract renewal. They asked the sheriff to explore options, including a month-to-month arrangement or hiring in-house staff for future budget cycles, and to start research on requirements and insurance implications for any third-party provider.
What’s next: the sheriff will evaluate alternative staffing or contractual options over the coming months while the renewed contract proceeds under the approved terms.
