8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com A request for proposals for correctional health services at the Monterey County Jail could signal the end for Wellpath, the current health care contractor with a contentious history and the largest provider of jail and prison health care. Wellpath, which used to operate under the name California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG), has a record of noncompliance and has faced thousands of lawsuits nationwide for poor inmate care. In Monterey County, multiple inmate deaths and a 2015 class-action settlement led to requirements for improved medical, dental and mental health care. Still, deaths and suicides have persisted. As Wellpath’s three-year, $44.3 million contract comes to an end in December of this year, the County is accepting bids for a new health care provider until March 27. Evaluations, as well as site visits, will be conducted in mid-April, with the bid award scheduled for the end of that month. “We’re really working to ensure that the team we put together to build this RFP, [in collaboration] with Contracts and Purchasing [Department], addresses everything that we believe will provide for the greatest level of care for our population,” Undersheriff Keith Boyd says. “Through the RFP [process], we’re able to create the checks and balances that we need to look out for that population that we serve.” In September 2023, a federal judge found CFMG to be in contempt of court for failing to meet 43 requirements to improve conditions under terms of the class-action settlement. In October 2024, the company was ordered to pay fines for violations totaling up to $1.3 million. In November 2024, Wellpath filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which effectively paused lawsuits and court actions against it, including collecting fines from the Monterey County case. A day after filing for bankruptcy, Wellpath released a statement assuring its operations will continue as normal and that patients would receive high-quality care. Wellpath representatives declined to respond to questions for this story, including on whether they intend to bid again. According to language in the RFP, bidders must carry liability, malpractice and cyber security insurance, and the County will evaluate the vendor’s history, compliance and penalties in prior correctional healthcare contracts. “We have an important role to look out for the interest of our inmate population,” says Boyd, “and we take this role seriously.” Nearly six weeks after a battery fire ignited inside a building at Vistra’s Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility on Jan. 16, the site remains volatile. On the evening of Feb. 18, a flareup fire ignited inside the same building, smoldering within an area that had already burned a month earlier, before finally petering out around 2am Feb. 19. Just three days later, on Feb. 22, a specially trained team hired by Vistra, and under the direction of the U.S. EPA, began what is expected to be a twoweek process to “de-link” undamaged batteries from the system—essentially, that means unbolting the metal plates connecting the batteries to each other. Per a Vistra website (mosslandingresponse.com) about the company’s response to the fire, the de-linking will mitigate “the risk of individual batteries interacting with other batteries and reducing the potential for flare-ups.” The de-linking will start on the west end of the first floor of the three-story building, which before the fire housed 100,000 lithium batteries. The two weeks is only the first phase and will address about a third of the batteries in the structure. The remaining batteries are in areas that are structurally unsafe and won’t be de-linked until after demolition. Amy Conway, a spokesperson for Vistra, adds that many unknowns remain because until the recent de-linking began, no one’s been able to get a closer look at it. As for when a site cleanup might begin, she can’t say; the focus remains on making the site secure. The adjacent battery power plant, PG&E’s Elkhorn Battery Energy Storage System, is likewise shut down, as fallout from the fire rained down on the site. Paul Doherty, a PG&E spokesperson, says the company is still assessing the fallout’s impact, and says there’s no clear estimate for a cleanup timeline, or whether the plant could be operational before 2026. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pursue the safety recommendations of an ad hoc committee, and provide monthly public updates. Take Care With Wellpath’s contract set to expire, County opens bids for jail health care providers. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS BE PREPARED The Wildfire Ready Monterey Town Hall features a panel discussion with wildfire preparedness experts as well as various vendor booths. Topics include defensible space, tree regulations, evacuation plans and more. 5-8:30pm Thursday, Feb. 27. Monterey Conference Center, Serra Ballroom, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. Free. 6463908, monterey.gov/fire. WHAT’S HAPPENING Soledad’s State of the City features officials discussing various updates on the South County city. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. 6pm Thursday, Feb. 27. Soledad Community Center, 560 Walker Drive, Soledad. Free. 223-5000, cityofsoledad.com. LEADERS BREAKFAST The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Breakfast includes talks by elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, State Sen. John Laird, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni and Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue. 7:30-9:30am Friday, Feb. 28. Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $50/chamber members, $60/ non-members. 751-7725, salinaschamber.com. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The Post-election Immigration Justice Panel addresses concerns about immigrant rights and policy changes under the current U.S. presidential administration. Local attorneys, scholars and lawmakers answer questions. 2-4pm Friday, Feb. 28. CSU Monterey Bay, Alumni and Visitors Center main room, 5108 Fourth Ave., Marina. Free. undocusuccess@csumb.edu, bit. ly/4gRhNUn. PAYMENT PLANS Marina residents are invited to share input on how to spend $3 million to upgrade public spaces, recreational facilities and amenities. The funds are provided by the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project’s Coast Development Fund. 10am-noon Saturday, March 1. UC MBEST Center, Suite 110, 3180 Imjin Road, Marina. Free. marinavoices.com. OPEN SEAT Salinas Valley Health accepts applications to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Directors. Applicants must be a registered voter in the Healthcare District and reside in Salinas Valley Health District Zone 3. Deadline to apply is 5pm Wednesday, March 5. gray@salinasvalleyhealth. com, SalinasValleyHealth.com/ BoardVacancy. Slow Burn The long process begins toward a careful, calculated recovery from the Vistra Fire. By David Schmalz A common area in the Monterey County Jail, where Wellpath and its predecessor company have provided health care services as a contractor since the mid-1980s. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX A federal judge found the company in contempt of court. DANIEL DREIFUSS
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