Board OKs increase for jail medical costs

The company threatened to terminate the contract at the end of January.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rising inmate numbers and staffing costs forced Mahoning County to pay more for medical service for county jail inmates.
County commissioners approved a $13,000 monthly increase in their contract with Prison Medical Services, based in Tennessee. That brings the total monthly payment to $102,000.
Even with the increase, the total is still some $3,400 a month lower than the next-lowest bidder from last year, which is when the county renewed its agreement with PMS, said Robert Knight, jail medical services director.
The county first contracted with the Tennessee company when the new jail on Fifth Avenue opened in 1996, Knight said. The contract has been renewed twice since then, and the current pact is set to expire in November 2002, he said.
Company's complaint: But the company had lately complained that it was losing money on the contract and could not continue providing services under its terms. It had notified the county that it would terminate the contract in 90 days unless a new one was negotiated.
"They were dropping us after the first of the year because they were bleeding too badly," Knight said.
He said the average daily inmate population has increased from 425 a year ago to 520 now, which is part of the reason for the company's problems.
But a larger reason is that area hospitals, which pay higher wages, were hiring away nurses who worked for the company. To compete, the company had to increase its wages, which in turn increased its costs.
Commissioner Ed Reese said medical services is one of the most expensive parts of operating the jail. About 40 percent of the inmates require prescription drugs and about 65 inmates a week require drugs for psychiatric treatment, he said.
Knight said there are usually seven or eight inmates who have tested positive for HIV, so they require special medication.
County's responsible: The county is responsible for providing the medication while the inmate is incarcerated.
Commissioners also passed a resolution approving the county's community character position paper.
The paper, developed after two years of research by the county's Comprehensive Strategy group, calls for the community to adopt character traits of integrity, respect, citizenship, self-control, fairness, responsibility and compassion.
By signing the paper, commissioners agreed to adopt those traits into the workplace, said Anne Louise White, group coordinator. She said more than 250 other local corporations already have signed on.
"I believe in the program very strongly, and the commissioners do as well," said county administrator Gary Kubic.
bjackson@vindy.com