Jail medical cost cuts up for review

The possibility remains open that Calaveras County could save tens of thousand of dollars if jail inmates could receive care from providers who practice a little closer to home.

Faced with the option of renewing a contract with Monterey-based California Forensic Medical Group for jail medical services Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to delay a decision two weeks while the possibility of Mark Twain-St. Joseph’s Hospital providing care is explored.
 

Supervisor Merita Callaway cast the dissenting vote, noting two additional weeks provides little time for anything more than a “rushed-through” job.   

While noting “we would love to be partners with the hospital,” she added “the hospital needs to think it through carefully on what they can provide.”   

Callaway also expressed concern that if the San Andreas hospital came back with a bid $10,000 to $20,000 lower than the $369,949 presented by California Forensic, it would be unfair to the current provider to provide them no opportunity to try and match the bid.

County Counsel Jim Jones said he did not think it would be legally required to issue a request for proposals for the service contract but could provide a final opinion in the coming days.

Though Supervisor Russ Thomas chastised jail and hospital staff for not communicating better on a potential agreement sooner, he said the county is “compelled to look at savings if they are available,” noting the new contract comes at a cost $10,600 higher than the expiring one-year deal while expenses are being cut in most other areas of county government.

Supervisor Steve Wilensky added that he sees “no harm in at least trying” to see if an agreement could be negotiated with Mark Twain-St. Joseph’s.

Medical care providers are required to perform care at the jail as the sheriff’s department lacks the staffing to provide transportation to an off-site facility, said Lt. Dennis Huberty of the Sheriff’s Custody Bureau.

In other business, the board approved transfer of labor negotiation responsibilities for sheriff’s department staff, excluding deputies, to the Calaveras County Public Safety Employees Association and a commitment to secure guaranteed use of eight beds in a juvenile detention facility to be built in 2012 in Tuolumne County.