Clark County extends contract with medical vendor for Clark County Jail, Juvenile Detention Center

The Clark County Council unanimously approved a request from the Department of Jail Services last week to extend its contract with medical vendor WellPath for two more years to provide health services for inmates in the Clark County Jail and the Juvenile Detention Center.

The extension comes with an increase to WellPath’s annual base pay to about $566,305 per month, for a total of $6.8 million annually.

In total, the two-year renewal period will cost $15.3 million, county spokesperson Joni McAnally previously told The Columbian.

The council also approved a separate request to provide $1.1 million for more jail medical staffing.

David Shook, director of jail services, said the medical needs of inmates have significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when it comes to dental care.

“We’re doing a great job, but we need to improve,” Shook said. “Some of these services we’ve been doing with the same number of nursing hours and staffing. It’s time to add just a little bit more.”

Medical needs may increase further, Shook noted, as construction is underway for a new medium-security housing facility at the Clark County Jail Work Center site that could create up to 64 additional jail beds.

The county has previously explored funding options for a $470 million remodel and expansion of the Clark County Jail aimed at doubling the old, dilapidated facility’s size and capacity. The project could add 192 beds to the jail’s general population, along with about 250 specialized beds for mental health and medical needs.

WellPath has amassed more than 1,500 medical malpractice, wrongful death and sexual abuse lawsuits in the last few years. The for-profit health care company filed for bankruptcy in November 2024 to address $644 million of debt, litigation and rising costs for labor and professional liability coverage.

Shook said the county has attempted to find alternatives, but with little luck due to the high price of correctional health care and lack of choices.

When the county entered a contract with WellPath in 2023, it was the only company to apply aside from the previous medical vendor, which no longer operates in the state, Shook said in the Feb. 3 council meeting.

Under the terms of the contract, base compensation for the first year was $5.9 million. Each subsequent year was subject to a 4 percent to 8 percent increase based on inflation. In 2024, WellPath’s contract was priced at $6.1 million and in 2025 it was $6.6 million.

Jail Services has also explored partnerships with Legacy Health and PeaceHealth to provide local medical services, but those plans have not materialized, Shook said.

“We have looked for all the best services, and again, there are no other options, either locally or nationally,” Shook said. “We have a good working relationship with this vendor. They are paying attention to national accreditations and are working with us to make sure we’re providing the best medical care possible.”