COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners brought forward a request from Sheriff Fred Blankenship during their work session on Wednesday to have a new company provide jail medical services.
Blankenship wants to cut ties with Advance Correctional Healthcare which has served the county for over a decade and sign a contract with Around the Clock Healthcare Services.
The current contract with Advance Correctional Healthcare expires on April 1.
Blankenship expressed his dissatisfaction with ACH to Commissioners saying they have had issues with them over the last couple of years. He said some of their billing has been questionable and there has been a lack of coverage when the nurse went on vacation.
According to Blankenship, the contract with Around the Clock will allow them to get 24 additional hours of nursing per week at an annual cost of about $330,000.
The contract proposal from Around the Clock was one of three submitted to the county.
Commissioners are expected to take formal action next Tuesday. Since the contract starts April 1, the action will be contingent upon the review of the deal by the county’s attorney.
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