File photo The exterior of the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus, Ind.
The Bartholomew County Commissioners on Monday renewed a contract agreement to provide health care to inmates at Bartholomew County Jail.
Advanced Correctional Healthcare is the contractor that’s provided care to inmates and the renewal encompasses medication, doctor visits, and dental and mental health services.
“We’ve been in contract with this company for a several years and it has just kind of gradually gone up,” 1st District Member Larry Kleinhenz said during the meeting. “I know our population has gone up and expectations have gone up. A jail is just a very expensive asset to have.”
The commissioners went ahead and approved the renewal amount of $438,059.
Jail Commander Justin Arnholt said the annual renewal came with no major changes and a slight price increase, although it is less than anticipated.
“The only thing that’s not included is any kind of off-site stuff,” Arnholt told the commissioners. “If we have to send them out to the hospital, we get billed for that.”
Arnholt noted that they do intend at looking at second pricing options in the future, however.
“It’s just going to be quite the process and this contract was coming up due for renewal, so that is something we may look into this year,” he said.
Kleinhenz said ACH was intially selected in part because there weren’t a lot of alternatives. “When we originally bid it, there weren’t a lot of providers in this arena, but I am sure there are others.”
