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To improve health care services at its jail, San Benito County has brought in a new medical provider.
At a news conference on Aug. 6, local officials introduced Virginia-based Mediko, which began operations on July 1 and now has 12 of its medical professionals on staff. Some are local and others are from outside the area.
This is Mediko’s first time operating in California and it’s providing around-the-clock care at the jail.
“This isn’t just about meeting legal or clinical obligations,” Sheriff Eric Taylor said. “This is about doing what’s right and what’s necessary for our incarcerated persons and staff.”
Taylor said the new contract is part of a broader effort to break the cycle of recidivism, particularly as the jail faces pressure about understaffing, along with an expected increase in the inmate population following recent changes in state law.
The jail’s health services have been in the spotlight for months. Both Taylor and the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury have raised alarms about dangerously low staffing levels and the difficulty of meeting inmates’ medical and mental health needs.
The county is also facing a lawsuit involving a jail inmate who committed suicide in 2022. The case includes allegations that chronic understaffing was a contributing factor.
While Mediko won’t fully resolve the staffing gap, Taylor told BenitoLink that the provider’s team will deliver “better and more comprehensive care.”
Mediko CEO Dr. Kaveh Ofogh said having 12 professionals on site “has never happened in the history of the jail.”
The clinical team includes a physician, a physician assistant, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and a range of key mental health professionals to fill a gap in inmate treatment, as the county’s Behavioral Health department has been unable to provide those services. The mental health group includes a psychiatrist, licensed mental health professionals and a discharge planner to help inmates transition back into civilian life.
Mediko is also introducing treatment for opiate use disorder. Ofogh told BenitoLink this is crucial.
Addiction, he said, is “like hypertension, it’s like diabetes. They need to get treated. If they don’t get treated, then they go out, seek drugs, and that bag of heroin that they use, if it’s mixed with fentanyl, it’s a deadly prescription. Hopefully, this not only reduces recidivism, but also reduces overdoses, which most commonly happen in the first two weeks post-incarceration.”
Mediko is also working with the Youth Services Center next to the jail. Previously, the center had a nurse on site four hours a day, five days a week. Now, nurses are available around the clock.
“We can get an intake at any point in time. We’re open 24/7,” Probation Department Chief Ashlyn Canez told BenitoLink. “Having someone available who can meet with our youth, see them in person, hear their needs and address them in a timely manner is really life-changing.”
For more than two decades, health care at the county jail was provided by California Forensic Medical Group, now known as Wellpath. Last year, the company charged the county about $2.3 million for its services, which the county decided not to renew after concerns about inadequate care, particularly for youth in the juvenile facility.
The contract with Mediko is for five years, and in the first year the county will pay more than $3.5 million. Subsequent years will include an annual 3% increase. The contract was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors on May 6.
“We’re laying the groundwork for a system that prioritizes both accountability and compassion,” said Supervisor Mindy Sotelo. “As a county, we understand that how we care for people in custody is a reflection of our values. It’s our responsibility to ensure that those under our supervision are treated with humanity and that they receive access to appropriate medical and mental health services.”
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