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Commissioners authorize solicitor to prepare Wellpath contract for jail healthcare in 2–1 vote
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Summary
After reviewing three proposals for correctional facility healthcare, the board authorized the solicitor to prepare a contract with Wellpath, with Commissioner Ahner dissenting; PrimeCare notified the county it will terminate services May 27, 2026.
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize the county solicitor to prepare a contract with Wellpath to provide health care services at the county correctional facility, following review of three vendor proposals. The motion passed with Commissioners Nothstein and Sofranko voting yes and Commissioner Ahner voting no.
Board materials showed three proposals for a two‑year contract: PrimeCare Medical Inc. ($1,853,545.28 year 1, with second‑year pricing tied to the US city average medical care services CPI plus 1% and annual increases not less than 3%), Mediko ($2,250,742.00 year 1; $2,318,264.00 year 2), and Wellpath ($2,113,718.74 year 1; $2,187,698.89 year 2). The board voted to direct the solicitor to prepare the agreement with Wellpath as listed on agenda item #26-260.
Commissioner Ahner objected to aspects of Wellpath’s proposal, noting the county received a revised request from Wellpath seeking an additional $250,000 to distribute injectable medications. He also raised concerns about the county’s ability to offset approximately $1 million in additional prison health costs that some proposals would represent. Commissioner Sofranko said the proposals were reviewed by the board, the county solicitor and the chief clerk/administrator and discussed differences including medication forms and 24‑hour nursing care.
The public record also shows PrimeCare Medical, Inc. provided notice it will terminate the existing partnership agreement to provide comprehensive inmate health services effective May 27, 2026, creating an operational deadline for the county to finalize a replacement provider.
Under the procurement discussion, board members noted that Mediko’s proposal included a MAT (medication‑assisted treatment) program addressed within that vendor’s submission, and that Wellpath’s revised proposal included a detailed summary addressing their MAT program. The motion to authorize the solicitor to prepare the contract does not itself finalize the contract’s execution; final contract terms and any implementation timeline remain subject to negotiation and formal execution by the board.
The board record for this item is agenda item #26-260. Commissioner Ahner recorded a dissenting vote when the solicitor was authorized to proceed; Commissioners Nothstein and Sofranko voted to authorize the solicitor. The record does not show the final executed contract or an effective start date in the meeting minutes.