By Chris Gadd
The Dickson Herald
DICKSON COUNTY, Tenn. — The county commission on first vote approved the sheriff’s top choice for a new inmate medical care provider for about $755,000 annually.
In the last fiscal year, the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office paid nearly $954,000 for inmate medical care.
Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe chose CorrectHealth, which is based in Atlanta, citing the availability of 24-hour care, on-site services and low cost as reasons.
He said jail officials have noticed a need for the year-round, all-day care.
“What we have discovered in our 16-hour coverage now is that we have inmates – whether it’s on purpose or not, I can’t say – but it seems like when the health provider is not in the facility there will needs that arise...we will have to send them out to the emergency room and that, in turn, gives us a higher bill back,” Bledsoe said.
Full story: Dickson Co. Sheriff: 24/7 inmate healthcare cuts cost