Lawrence County renews health pact for inmates

Staff Report

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

Lawrence County commissioners have approved renewing a contract with Prime Care Medical for three years with a two-year extension contingent on approval by the county solicitor. The company has had the contract for the past ten years.

The contract provides for medical and dental care for inmates at the Lawrence County Jail and remains mostly unchanged except that the county will assume more of the risk in exchange for a cheaper premium. Under the new contract, the insurance company will pay for the first $50,000 in costs for inmates as a group before the county starts sharing the cost. Previously, the insurance company paid the first $2,500 per inmate before the county began paying. The contract cost will be reduced from $43,416 to $36,904 per month. County Controller and Lawrence County Prison Board President Dave Gettings said that a small part of the premium reduction is also attributable to installation of a dental office in the jail. But most of the reduction results from the new risk sharing arrangement.

Also at their meeting this week, commissioners named Tony Celli of Ellwood City to a five-year term on the County Municipal Authority and Vince Fuleno of Union Township to a five year term on the Lawrence County Redevelopment Authority.

Leo Carlin of Union Township was reappointed to the Lawrence County Airport Authority. Carlin’s appointment was effective June 1, and the other two appointments are effective immediately.