A healthcare provider has expressed concerns about the mental health services offered in the Shelby County Jail, raising questions about the contracts awarded to provide such services. This comes as Shelby County faces scrutiny for its handling of mental health care within the jail, with recent incidents leading to the loss of lives.
A tragic example highlighted is the case of Marcus McDonald, who was detained by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department during a mental health crisis. Unfortunately, he was not provided with the expected mental evaluation and was placed in a cell with another inmate who strangled him to death. Such incidents have raised significant concerns about the quality of mental health services within the Shelby County Jail.
Records show that 20 inmates have died while in custody since 2022, with the causes of death varying. While some were attributed to heart issues or drugs, at least two inmates died by suicide. Furthermore, the cause of death for Gershun Freeman, an inmate who died in custody, was listed as a psychotic disorder, leading to the indictment of several Sheriff’s officers.
Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell expressed his concern, emphasizing that many individuals in the jail have mental health issues and may not belong there. The responsibility for the jail falls under the Shelby County Sheriff, but the County Commission approves the contracts for services provided in the facility.
Dr. Kaveh Ofogh’s company, Mediko, submitted a bid to provide healthcare services to inmates at the Shelby County Jail. The bid, valued at almost $37 million, was not the cheapest, but it aimed to deliver the professionals needed for adequate inmate care. Dr. Ofogh reported that his proposal was 1100 pages long, outlining staffing levels, costs, recommendations, and scope of work. The bid selection committee was aware of these details and scored Mediko the highest, with a score of 93.
Despite Mediko receiving the highest score, the bid was awarded to Wellpath, a company that submitted the second-cheapest bid but scored lower by two points. Dr. Ofogh expressed his shock and disappointment at this decision, pointing out that the County had not respected the selection committee’s recommendation.
The final decision on the jail healthcare contract is expected soon, but it has brought to light the larger issue of contract awards in Shelby County and the need for progress in addressing mental health care within the jail.
WREG reached out to Wellpath for comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
This situation raises significant questions about the state of mental health services within the Shelby County Jail and the transparency and fairness of contract awards related to inmate care and support.
