Santa Barbara County supervisors approved another extension to the troubled contract with jail health care provider Wellpath on Tuesday.
This contract extension, through the end of June, is the sixth amendment to the original contract for medical and mental health services in the Main Jail and Northern Branch Jail. Wellpath also provides medical care for the juvenile hall.
The Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury, community advocates and county supervisors have concerns about the staffing and health care standards in the jails.
Wellpath and the county have been negotiating a year-long contract extension (through March 2025) but haven’t reached agreement yet, Sheriff’s Office representatives said Tuesday.
Sheriff’s Office Custody Commander Ryan Sullivan said there have been 50 negotiation meetings so far. His office is “trying very diligently” to address all the concerns, he said.
Supervisors unanimously approved the contract extension Tuesday.
Wellpath is not meeting staffing minimums but is still charging the county the full contract amount, a recent Grand Jury report determined.
The Grand Jury recommends more staff positions, more training, and better intake screenings for mental health and substance use disorders. The Sheriff’s Office is required to issue a response to the findings and recommendations within 60 days of the report, which was released in late April.
“Extending its current contract continues an unacceptable and harmful level of Wellpath medical and mental health care,” said Maureen Earls, with the CLUE and League of Women Voters criminal justice workgroup.
She said a new contract should comply with the Murray case remedial plan, which is part of the settlement for the disability rights lawsuit against the county over its jail conditions.
“People have a right to be safe in our jails, and the county has a responsibility to protect them,” Earls said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Wellpath is paid about $14.7 million a year for medical and mental-health services to people in county jail custody.
