Madison County officials considering a new healthcare provider for jail

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – Providing healthcare for inmates has become a lot more difficult thanks to the opioid crisis. In Madison County, officials are weighing whether to keep their current healthcare provider at the jail or to find a new one.

Nurse practitioner Kim Cox spoke at a Madison County Fiscal Court meeting about proposing a bid to run healthcare at the jail.

“A lot of my population that I see is also substance abuse and addiction and that’s kind of near and dear to my heart,” said Cox.

Madison County Jailer Doug Thomas says that while the current healthcare provider for the jail, Southern Health Partners, has done a good job, the agreement is almost up. With an expansion to the jail potentially coming, the building will likely need more coverage from its current 12 hours a day, seven days a week plan.

“If we build 250 to 300 more beds, whatever we may build, then we are going to have to have more medical coverage. We may have to have it 24/7,” said Thomas.

The County Attorney would like to see someone local providing healthcare to the jail.

“I don’t have a count, but my guess is that 65-70% of litigation that the jails experience is a result of medical care. It’s just really hard to get anybody to listen to you when they’re out of Louisville or Indiana.>

The jailer says the current agreement costs around $200,000. A potential partnership with Kim Cox could save the county up to $20,000-25,000.

Cox is the only bidder so far. Thomas says there’s still potential for other bidders to come to the table. The County Judge would like to see a summary sheet of her plan presented at a future fiscal court meeting.