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Person County commissioners approve new jail medical contractor, commit extra FY27 funding
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Summary
The Person County Board voted to replace Southern Health Partners with IMS Correctional Healthcare for detainee medical services and agreed to increase funding in the FY2027 budget; officials said expanded on-site care and pharmacy savings should reduce costly off-site bills despite a higher contract price.
The Person County Board of Commissioners on April 20 voted to change the detention-facility medical services contractor from Southern Health Partners to IMS Correctional Healthcare and confirmed a commitment to increase related FY2027 funding.
Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Nassy outlined persistent high inmate medical costs and described a suite of operational changes—including expanded on-site staffing and an ACA enrollment program—that have reduced outlays this year. He told commissioners that IMS’s proposal would raise the annual contract cost by roughly $110,000 compared with the current quote but would cover more care on-site and reduce off-site billing, prescription spending and transport costs.
"Moving forward with IMS Correctional Healthcare will create long-term savings, expanded on-site medical care, [and] the ability to cover all shifts," Chief Deputy Nassy said, adding that the county had earlier saved about $100,000 in the current year after changes to how inmates are enrolled in insurance.
Dr. Kenny Webster, medical director for the prospective contractor, described services IMS can provide on-site and said that many routine procedures billed heavily by hospitals could be handled inside the jail as part of the contract. "If it's on-site, it's in the contract cost. As soon as they leave our facility, we get a bill," Dr. Webster said, and emphasized pharmacy-management practices he said would reduce overall pharmaceutical spend.
Board discussion focused on continuity of care, pharmacy costs and the limits of enrolling inmates in Affordable Care Act plans after changes to special-enrollment rules. After discussion the board approved the vendor change by voice vote; the chair announced the motion was approved.
Next steps: the county manager will incorporate the new contract and the agreed funding increase into the FY2027 budget proposal, which is scheduled to be presented on May 18.
Note: the staff packet included two vendor quotes presented to the board: the incumbent Southern Health Partners figure and a higher IMS quote; commissioners were shown those figures in comparing on-site services and projected send-out reductions.
