Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 16, 2000 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-h, <br />SUBJECT: Contract Renewal: Jail Medical Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing i~ Central Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones 245-2652 <br />Renewal <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 _ <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham fi88-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider renewing the agreement through June 30, 2001 with Orange Family Medical <br />Center for medical services to the Orange County Jail inmates in the amount of $18,150 annually. <br />BACKGROUND: By statute, counties are required to provide medical services to inmates incarcerated <br />in the County's Jail. Since 1985 the County has maintained a contract with Orange Family Medical <br />Center to provide this service. <br />The Sheriff has attempted to control the high cost of medial services by employing assistance from <br />County staff, such as through the Emergency Management Department. EMS provides assessment for <br />inmates experiencing medical difficulty as well as provideg inmate treatment in some cases. They also <br />provide advice regarding follow up medical care and pre-incarceration assessments as may be <br />requested. By providing this service with County staff, the need for professional medical service from <br />the care providers is sometimes diverted. In addition, the Sheriff wntinues to levy a $10 co-pay for non- <br />emergency sick call to inmates who can pay far medical services. <br />Orange Family Medical has agreed to renew the contract for $18,150 annually. Contracts for the past <br />two years have been $16,500 annually. Since they did not request increases for 2 years, this averages <br />out at an approximate 5% increase per year. This wmpares favorably with the medical cost increases <br />in general. The County will continue to be invoiced separately for testing and x-rays required as <br />treatment for the inmate. Historically, the costs for these services have been $2,000-$3,000 per year. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds will be included in the Sheriff Department 2000-2001 operating budget to <br />cover the cost of this contract. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the contract renewal <br />through June 30, 2001 with Orange Family Medical Center pursuant to the terms cited in the abstract; <br />and authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. <br />