Commission approves proceeding with jail medical program contract, contingent on contract language and IT details

Sheriff Ken Blackburn briefed the commission June 17 on a technology and administrative package intended to lower medical costs for inmates and expand post-release coverage under ACA provisions.

Blackburn described B12 Technology’s proposal and a Sheriff’s RX pharmacy incentive the vendor markets. He said the county is being courted because the vendor wants a Wyoming implementation; Blackburn indicated the ACA application could allow coverage to follow inmates for a year under certain conditions. County Attorney Jennifer Kirk and others raised contractual concerns and asked for language revisions. Blackburn requested an executive session to discuss the contract, and commissioners moved into an executive session for contractual matters.

After the executive session, the commission approved proceeding with the agreement conditional on clarification of installation and IT needs and on Kirk making appropriate contract-language changes. Commissioners also noted they will discuss related radio equipment in the upcoming budget work session and clarified training scheduling for the VOS program.

Why it matters: the program could affect county jail medical costs and post-release coverage for eligible people, and it requires careful contractual and IT review before implementation. The commission’s approval is contingent on staff resolving installation and legal concerns.

What’s next: county attorney and staff will work with the vendor to clarify installation/IT requirements and adjust contract language before final authorization.