Auditor releases Jail Healthcare Audit Follow-up

Sponsored by: Auditor's Office

County Auditor John Hutzler has released his first follow-up report on his nationally recognized Jail Healthcare Audit of November 2014. He found that County Administration had Fully Implemented eight of 27 recommendations. Two were Not Implemented. Implementation of sixteen recommendations remains In Process. One recommendation is On Hold.

After receiving the Auditor's November 2014 report, the County replaced the former jail healthcare provider, Corizon Health, executing a new contract with NaphCare, Inc. on May 1, 2015. The Auditor found that the NaphCare contract, as executed, did not implement certain audit recommendations regarding minimum staffing, time reporting, and remedies for understaffing. The County also had not yet fully implemented most of the Auditor's recommended improvements in monitoring provider performance.

In the Auditor's view "Failure to promptly remedy defects in the contract and to implement a comprehensive contract monitoring program would expose the County to significant risks."

In a joint response, the County Administrator and the Sheriff stated "Through the leadership and expertise of the Sheriff's Office, Health and Human Services, County Counsel, Support Services and the new vendor NaphCare, much progress is being made during a busy period of transition. Based on the complexity of the jail healthcare service model, this transition period will realistically continue through the current fiscal year as operational and contract details are discussed, problem-solved and implemented. ... In the meantime, the County has communicated with the vendor our intent to administer and actively monitor the contract consistent with the standards outlined in the County's request for proposals (RFP) process and NaphCare's response."

The Auditor's report and the response will be discussed at the Board of Commissioners' work session on December 1, 2015.