Lake officials issue open invitation for jail medical providers
Times, The (Munster, IN)
November 13, 2011
CROWN POINT -- Lake County commissioners have opened the competition for next year's contract to provide jail medical care.
"We will be advertising a (request for proposals) so anyone can submit for jail medical," County Attorney John Dull said last week.
Commissioners also postponed their public hearing until Dec. 14 to give potential vendors time to prepare business plans.
A source familiar with county officials said Sheriff John Buncich insisted on opening up bidding after criticism of the commissioners' initial plan to invite bids from only two firms: Med-Staff, of Hobart, the vendor since 2007, and Dr. William Forgey, who has been working for Buncich's quality control team of jail medical staff. Forgey incorporated as Correctional Health Indiana, of Merrillville, on Oct. 31.
A Times editorial Thursday said the county should avoid the appearance of a "sweetheart deal." The source said Buncich agreed.
Robert Malizzo, owner of Med-Staff, who said he also supports open competition, nevertheless, expressed concern the sheriff already has made up his mind.
"I think it's inappropriate for the process to include someone already working for the sheriff and who forms a company all of a sudden. Buncich already is on record as saying his recommendation to commissioners is not to retain Med-Staff. So what kind of fairness are we going to have?"
John Bushemi, an attorney for Buncich, said Malizzo's complaint is baseless because the sheriff will rely on four specialists to grade the proposals received in terms of how closely they would comply with federal inmate care standards.
Bushemi said Buncich, who took office 11 months ago, inherited a jail medical department that was found by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2009 and 2010 to have "systemic violations of inmate constitutional rights to medical care."
County officials agreed last year to upgrade the jail. But Justice Department officials inspected it two months ago and, Bushemi said, found the "great majority of medical care provisions (of the court order) remain in noncompliance."
Bushemi said a change is needed. "This is the reason for the request for proposals for a new medical department contract. This will be a competitive process, which will consider proposals from all qualified vendors. This decision will be based upon what is in the best interests of the jail and Lake County taxpayers and no other consideration."
Malizzo said commissioners and former Sheriff Roy Dominguez hired his firm four years ago to stabilize medical care in the jail at a reduced cost from the previous vendor and should stay on board next year.
"You will see at the Dec. 14 hearing exactly how much money the county has saved since we have been there and the lack of lawsuits. We have obviously done more than we have been hired to do," Malizzo said.
County officials are privately being warned to abandon all thoughts of tax savings because next year's medical contract could cost an additional $1 million. Malizzo said he would have to hire 30 additional nurses and medical assistants to meet the level of care spelled out in the county's request for proposals.
A county government consultant also has recommended hiring scores of additional corrections officers to move inmates to and from their cells to the medical ward, which could cost several millions of dollars more annually.
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