{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"KZYX News","title":"BoS approves jail medical contract, with condition that it be amended soon","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/edcd5fb8\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":388,"description":"December 16, 2021 — The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved the contract, including a $3 million increase, with the medical provider for inmates at the county jail this week, with the proviso that the contract be amended to include a mental health clinician. Dr Jenine Miller, the head of the county’s Behavioral Health Department, agreed to work with NaphCare, the provider, on those amendments, and report back to the board in 60 days.\r\nSupervisor Ted Williams asked Miller for her assessment of the mental healthcare in the current contract. “Are we completely in compliance, in providing a level of care that meets standards?” he asked.\r\n“Without a mental health clinician and expanding mental health services in the jail, no, we’re not,” she replied. “If we approve this contract, with adding the clinician, we’ll be closer to where we need to be, mental health-wise.” She added that there is a number of ways in which the matter can be investigated, if a patient inmate claims they did not receive services.\r\nHowever, there has been at least one instance of a former inmate who complained about requesting a mental health assessment and not receiving it. Williams said some of his constituents have told him that they fear retribution if they report problems in the jail.\r\nMiller said that, in addition to a mental health clinician, she would need to take a much closer look at the details of the treatment. “I have made it clear with NaphCare and the jail, for me to really get on board with their contract, we need to do audits,” she insisted. “NaphCare and the jail have agreed, they would be fine with Behavioral Health doing a quarterly audit.”\r\n Dr Jeff Alvarez, the Chief Medical Officer at NaphCare, added that the National Commision on Correctional Healthcare does conduct an independent audit every three years and would be back onsite this year. \r\nThe mental healthcare portion comprises 17%, or less than a fifth, of NaphCare’s contract. Another 17% is the jail-based...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/xZpAumwbhFUpJUYcwaQ1-q6snzOyqAm13l7cW6AWPCM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mMzkz/NjAwNjc2OWMyZmFk/YWY2YTdmYjI5M2Mz/YWMxNy5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}