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Supervisors authorize negotiations with Wellpath for jail and juvenile health services, seek shorter term and CalAIM coordination
Summary
Following an RFP that recommended CFMG/Wellpath, the board authorized county staff to negotiate with the vendor for correctional healthcare but asked for a shorter/optioned term, continued monthly compliance credits for missed staffing, and stronger CalAIM billing coordination with Public Health.
After receiving a recommendation from a multi‑department scoring committee that CFMG/Wellpath was the most qualified responsive bidder for correctional health services, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 authorized county negotiators to enter contract talks with Wellpath but directed staff to seek a shorter base term or a contract with extension options and to clarify CalAIM implementation and billing responsibilities.
Sheriff’s custody staff and procurement leaders told the board that CFMG has provided county jail and juvenile hall medical services since April 2017 and that the RFP scoring committee — which included representatives from Public Health, Behavioral Wellness, CEO, Probation and the Sheriff’s Office — unanimously recommended CFMG/Wellpath. The sheriff emphasized continuity of care, national correctional health experience and work on accreditation as reasons to remain with the incumbent provider.
Public Health presented a county‑run staffing and cost model as an alternative. That model added administrative and information‑technology overhead and estimated slightly higher near‑term staffing costs; Public Health officials said a county takeover would require phased implementation and additional time to stand up 24/7 clinical operations. Board members asked whether other counties run public‑health correctional operations and were told some larger counties do, but most contract with specialized correctional health providers.
Members probed contract compliance and reimbursements. County risk and claims staff said Wellpath/CFMG have contributed to settlements when appropriate and that the county has collected service credits for recent under‑staffing; county counsel noted active bankruptcy restructuring filings by some Wellpath affiliated entities and said CFMG itself is not a debtor but that clarification from the bankruptcy court remains pending.
Supervisors directed staff to negotiate with Wellpath but to pursue a shorter base term (for example three years with optional one‑year renewals or board opt‑outs) and to ensure CalAIM implementation and county billing arrangements will be coordinated with Public Health and the CEO’s office. The board’s direction included continued monitoring of contract credits for missed service and an instruction that the negotiated contract return to the board for approval.
