Commission authorizes multi‑year inmate medical contract with Southern Health Partners

The Franklin County Commission authorized a multi‑year contract for inmate medical services with Southern Health Partners, Inc., by voice vote at its Aug. 1 special session.

Resolution 8d-0922 was moved by Commissioner Adam Casey and seconded by Commissioner Barbara Finney; the minutes record the measure as "approved by voice vote, all ayes, 16/0." The packet includes an amendment to the Health Services Agreement with updated language covering scope, staffing, cost limitations for outside medical services and contract duration.

Key provisions in the amendment text entered into the record include: an annualized "cost pool" limit of $55,000 per contract year for certain outside medical costs (hospitalization, outside laboratory/radiology, dental services outside the jail and other high-cost items); a staffing plan that provides 110 on-site nursing hours per week and a 6-hour-per-week Qualified Mental Health Professional (on-site or tele-psychiatry) beginning Sept. 1, 2022; a 12-month base compensation schedule (packet lists an annualized base compensation of approximately $351,339.08 for the year effective Aug. 1, 2022–July 31, 2023); and an automatic 12‑month renewal procedure described in the amendment language.

The amendment text also defines additional billing and reconciliation procedures for cost-pool overages and shortfalls and describes billing timing and late‑fee treatment for reimbursable outside costs. The minutes record that the Board authorized the county finance official to enter into the contract in accordance with state law.