A request for proposals for correctional health services at the Monterey County Jail could signal the end for Wellpath, the current health care contractor with a contentious history and the largest provider of jail and prison health care. Wellpath, which used to operate under the name California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG), has a record of noncompliance and has faced thousands of lawsuits nationwide for poor inmate care. In Monterey County, multiple inmate deaths and a 2015 class-action settlement led to requirements for improved medical, dental and mental health care. Still, deaths and suicides have persisted.
As Wellpath’s three-year, $44.3 million contract comes to an end in December of this year, the County is accepting bids for a new health care provider until March 27. Evaluations, as well as site visits, will be conducted in mid-April, with the bid award scheduled for the end of that month.
“We’re really working to ensure that the team we put together to build this RFP, [in collaboration] with Contracts and Purchasing [Department], addresses everything that we believe will provide for the greatest level of care for our population,” Undersheriff Keith Boyd says. “Through the RFP [process], we’re able to create the checks and balances that we need to look out for that population that we serve.”
In September 2023, a federal judge found CFMG to be in contempt of court for failing to meet 43 requirements to improve conditions under terms of the class-action settlement. In October 2024, the company was ordered to pay fines for violations totaling up to $1.3 million.
In November 2024, Wellpath filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which effectively paused lawsuits and court actions against it, including collecting fines from the Monterey County case.
A day after filing for bankruptcy, Wellpath released a statement assuring its operations will continue as normal and that patients would receive high-quality care.
Wellpath representatives declined to respond to questions for this story, including on whether they intend to bid again.
According to language in the RFP, bidders must carry liability, malpractice and cyber security insurance, and the County will evaluate the vendor’s history, compliance and penalties in prior correctional healthcare contracts.
“We have an important role to look out for the interest of our inmate population,” says Boyd, “and we take this role seriously.”
(1) comment
I hope that the Board of Supervisors takes into the consideration that between April 2022 and October 2023 there were 9 deaths in that 18 month period...including one where a senior man suffered tremendously as his flesh rotted away and he was denied hospitalization until he basically had gangrene of his leg, another where a man told them he was suicidal 3x before he allegedly hung himself with phone cord in booking, another that was very suspicious. They claimed the man committed suicide by stuffing toilet paper down his own throat and suffocating himself to death, which is impossible...That man was my husband....and I never got answers because they claim the camera was broken.. the videos that they did have did not match the Wellpath report and care log..
Several of these deaths occurred in booking, just hours to a couple days, after their arrests. The last death was my husband's cousin where they claimed that he OD'd, yet had no known addiction. He had survived 14 years in prison and after a law passed that offered young offenders a second chance at life, he was brought back to Monterey County jail for court, where he died a week before he had his court date to get out... Thus, he was never given that second chance that he was so excited about. That's two people, in the same family, dead in the custody of Monterey County jail in 18 months.... One family completely devastated two times.
There has been so many deaths at MC jail alone. Well Path has had countless warnings over the last 10 years since the Hernandez lawsuit... so many failed inspections and yet last year, they were still out of compliance with 43 of 44 requirements. At what point does negligence become intentional? At what point, and how many people have to die before a negligent death is considered murder?
....And they have had, I believe over 4000 deaths across the country, at different institutions, that they are contracted with.
This is unacceptable. It was shocking to everyone when they renewed their contract three years ago. Hopefully, they will not make that mistake again. Hopefully, they will put human beings health and well-being first, as well as, bring a little piece to the families who have lost loved ones, due solely, to the negligence and incompetence of Wellpath
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.