Commissioners delay decision on jail medical contract after UTMB proposal and sheriff concerns

Ellis County paused action on changes to its jail medical services after staff outlined alternatives and commissioners requested more information. Purchasing Director A.J. Harbin told the court staff approached three providers: NapCare (which declined interest), CoreHealth (a proposal roughly $9.7 million — about double earlier costs), and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), which proposed contracting on an actual‑cost basis plus a 10% administrative add.

Harbin said UTMB's model would transfer existing medical staff to state payroll and price labor at state cost; preliminary estimates discussed in the meeting put a UTMB contract at about $5 million or less, subject to final contract language and verification. "They're a state entity, they provide services at their actual cost...they add 10% for indirect administrative functions," Harbin said. He said UTMB could also reduce pharmacy costs after a certification process that would allow purchases at manufacturer cost.

Sheriff Norman, asked to comment, said UTMB had provided services to the county in roughly 2010–2013 and that experience was "not a good situation," and he said he was contacting sheriffs in Galveston and Brazoria counties for references. Commissioners agreed they wanted finalized contract text and reference checks and chose to take no action on item 2.1 at this meeting, leaving interim coverage with Hope Health under the existing not‑to‑exceed arrangement until the court revisits the matter.