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Sheriff's jail health report: big increase in MAT enrollments, staff say audits and discharge planning improving outcomes
Summary
Sheriff's Office presented the 2025 Wellpath annual report to the board; officials said medically assisted treatment (MAT) enrollments increased substantially and discharge planning was strengthened with appointment scheduling and prescriptions at release; board asked for aligned county health audits and more public reporting.
County and Sheriff's Office officials presented the California Forensic Medical Group (Wellpath) 2025 annual report on health care at county jail facilities and answered detailed questions about medically assisted treatment (MAT), staffing, grievances and audits.
Lieutenant David Harmon (custody/health services liaison) and County Health representatives described a sharp increase in MAT participation in the jail and new discharge planning procedures that schedule appointments and call in prescriptions for people leaving custody. "Matt Hamlin is the supervisor of the MAT program and he does a great job at making sure that the patients have appointments when they are released," County Health said during the presentation.
Boardmembers probed vacancy and turnover rates for clinical staff; the sheriff's lieutenant said current vacancy rates had improved to about 6.5% and that the number of positions authorized in the last contract had been filled. The board also raised concerns about grievance handling; staff said some grievances are routed to a contracted review entity but that the sheriff's custody division and County Health monitor substantiated grievances and corrective action plans through monthly MAC meetings.
Supervisors asked that County Health audit results be aligned with annual Wellpath reporting to present a fuller view. Staff said the next county health report is planned for September and that they are working to integrate auditing and reporting timelines for greater timeliness and transparency.
What happens next: the board received the report and directed staff to continue aligning Wellpath annual reports with county health audits and to return with the next scheduled update in September.
