Commissioners to vote on health services

On Tuesday morning, the Hays County Commissioners Court will discuss and take possible action to execute a Health Services Agreement with Wellpath, LLC to provide health care services and related administrative services for the Juvenile Detention Facility.

According to the agenda item request, Wellpath will provide licensed vocational nurse (LVN), registered nurse (RN) and physician oversight to administer healthcare services as listed in the agreement. In order to move to the contract with Wellpath LLC, commissioners will also vote to eliminate two full-time licensed vocational nurse positions at the facility. According to the request submitted to the court, the positions have been hard to fill and, if passed, the eliminations will be effective on Aug. 1.   

If the agreement is passed, Hays County will pay Wellpath a monthly installment of $25,550.50 for its services. Though the initial agreement term is Aug. 1 - Sept. 30, 2019, the agreement will automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless terminated. Some of the services Wellpath provides are initial screening of covered detainees, health assessments and sick calls. 

The Hays County Juvenile Center, which has a total of 148 beds, is a 42,000 square-foot correctional facility operated by the Hays County Juvenile Board, according to the county’s website.  

In other business, the court will vote to authorize an updated Letter of Agreement between the Hays County Veterans Treatment Court and Austin Recovery, Inc. Commissioners previously authorized an agreement that will allow veterans in-patient treatment for substance abuse disorders, but the proposed revision will reduce costs from $12,000 to $7,500 per individual. 

Additionally, the court will vote on approval of Colt Clements’ resignation from the Board of Directors of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. Should the commissioners approve Clements’ resignation, Jeff Shaw will be appointed to fulfill the remainder of the term.