Resolution to Authorize Sauk County Sheriff's Office to Enter into a Contract Agreement with Southern Health Partners to Oversee and Provide Licensed Healthcare Services for Jail Inmates

BACKGROUND: The Sheriff’s Office is charged with the responsibility for administering, managing, and supervising the health care delivery system of the Sauk County Jail under Department of Corrections Code 350.09. The Sheriff’s Office solicited bids from medical healthcare providers to provide on-site health care personnel, direct medical services for inmates, and coordination of off-site medical care, hospitalization, dental and other services that may be needed. The Sheriff’s Office received two (2) competitive sealed bids for medical services in the Jail based on an average daily population of 129, and the public opening of bids took place on January 25, 2024, at the Sauk County Law Enforcement Center, and the lowest responsible bidder is Southern Health Partners. It is in the best interest of Sauk County to enter into a contract for a stipulated sum of $522,120 for year one (1) with an annual increase of 4% or Medical CPI (Consumer Price Index), whichever is higher, with Southern Health Partners for the medical services in the Sauk County Jail.  Southern Health Partners will be able to provide physicians and registered nurse in the Jail and will:

• Provide 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year consultation with Sauk County Jail Staff when healthcare staff is not present at the facility;
• Provide 112 hours a week of registered nurse services in the Jail to provide medical care to include direct medical services for inmates, coordination of off-site medical care, hospitalization, dental, and other services that may be needed, and oversight of all inmate medications within the Jail;
• Provide expertise in health care provision for the specialized inmate population;
• Provide insurance coverage to defend medical practice in any potential civil litigation against the County of Sauk and/or the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, met in regular session, that the lowest responsible bidder of Southern Health Partners in the amount of $522,120 is hereby accepted by Sauk County for medical services in the jail and the Sauk County Sheriff is authorized to sign a contract for year one (1) with an annual increase of 4% or Medical CPI, whichever is higher, on behalf of Sauk County.