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Committee forwards $1.6 million MetroHealth purchase order for off-site inmate care to full council
Summary
The Cuyahoga County Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee voted April 1 to send Resolution 20250128 to the full council under second-reading suspension. The measure authorizes a purchase order up to $1.6 million to MetroHealth to reimburse off‑site medical services for inmates.
The Cuyahoga County Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee on April 1 voted to forward Resolution 20250128 to the full council under second‑reading suspension. The resolution authorizes a purchase order to MetroHealth not to exceed $1,600,000 to reimburse off‑site medical services for county jail residents.
"This is our annual purchase order for off‑site medical services provided by MetroHealth," said Chris Costin of the sheriff's department, who described the PO as separate from the jail's in‑house medical contract. Costin said county residents are sent to MetroHealth facilities and the county pays for those services through the purchase order.
Costin told the committee staff had been asked to reduce the proposed cap to $1,350,000 but the revised figure was not incorporated into the written legislation in time. He also said the county typically spends about $1.6 million per calendar year on these off‑site services and that roughly $265,000 in 2024 invoices are being paid in 2025.
A committee member asked whether the arrangement is a subcontract and which hospitals could provide care. Costin said the off‑site services are handled separately from the in‑jail medical contract and that, while MetroHealth is the named provider in the resolution, alternate procurements could cover services at other providers such as the Cleveland Clinic or dialysis centers.
Costin said the PO is structured on an annual basis, with any unspent funds returned to the general fund and invoices reconciled in the first quarter of the following year. He asked the committee to approve suspension of the second reading because invoices date back to January 2025.
The committee moved and seconded the motion to send the resolution to the full council under second‑reading suspension and approved it by voice vote. The transcript records an affirmative voice vote ('Aye') but does not list individual roll‑call votes.
The resolution now goes to the full council for final consideration.
