14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 12-18, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com At budget hearings in May, Undersheriff Keith Boyd had just 10 minutes to break down the requests for what would be the largest ask in Monterey County’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. Boyd brought what he saw as good news in a tight budget year: a decrease in the department’s initial requests. Among the cuts: $2 million in overtime initially requested; $750,000 in funding requested for Axon—a drone and body camera vendor—and a $7.2 million placeholder for projected increases in jail health care costs. “The big one we’ve eliminated, because we don’t have a new contract in place at this time, is the increase of $7.2 million,” Boyd said. “Which was a projection based on the market.” The final cost of a new jail health care contract remains unknown, for now. Boyd added that he expected the Sheriff’s Office would begin negotiating with the selected vendor in the first two weeks of June. The County has spent the last four months soliciting bids and evaluating proposals for what will potentially be a new health care provider for the Monterey County Jail, as the current $44.3 million, three-year contract with Wellpath ends on Dec. 31. A request for proposals was issued on Feb. 20 by the County’s Contracts and Purchasing Department. As of the Weekly’s deadline, the next provider has been tentatively awarded. According to records obtained by the Weekly via a California Public Records Act request, personnel from seven health care companies attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting that took place on March 10: Armor; California Health and Recovery Solutions, PC; Correctional Healthcare Partners; NaphCare; Physician Correctional, USA; 22nd Century Technologies, Inc.; and Wellpath. In an emailed statement, company founder Taylor Fithian says that after 40 years providing care in the jail, Wellpath did not make the cut. “We understand the County’s intention to transition services to a new provider organization, and we will work with the new provider to help implement a seamless transition of care,” he says. The next health care provider will be expected to deliver comprehensive onsite medical, dental, mental health and pharmaceutical services for incarcerated individuals, in compliance with a 2015 class-action settlement. The terms mandate court oversight with independent monitoring; Wellpath has faced fines for noncompliance. The other bidders are not without criticism: Armor has been found liable in inmate deaths in Ohio and Wisconsin; NaphCare and Physician Correctional have been sued in cases involving wrongful deaths in custody. Medical needs have risen in recent years, according to documents obtained by the Weekly. From 2019 to 2023, hospital days rose from 3,893 in 2019 to 6,042; emergency room visits increased from 283 to 503. Boyd noted that jail health care costs increased by nearly $3.4 million in fiscal year 2023 alone. Once a proposed contract is drafted, it will head to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for approval. Health Bet As Sheriff’s Office negotiates a new health care contract in the jail, current provider Wellpath says they’re out of the running. By Katie Rodriguez An updated intake area of Monterey County Jail is meant to give health care professionals an opportunity to assess newly booked inmates for potential issues that require medical attention. NEWS Personnel from seven companies attended a pre-bid meeting. DANIEL DREIFUSS ’24 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
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