Forsyth County Approves New Jail Medical Provider

The Forsyth County Detention Center will have a new health care provider for inmates at the facility. Commissioners officially approved a new contract with NaphCare.

The company isn't a stranger to Forsyth County. NaphCare provided health services at the jail from 2004 through 2009.

The more than $19-million contract is for two years and 10 months and includes additional funding to support an increased focus on providing more behavioral and mental health services for inmates.

Wellpath is the county's current medical provider for the detention center. Some local activist groups have called for the county to cut ties with the company after the death of John Neville in December 2019. Neville died after being restrained in the facility. The incident led to protests in the streets and six detention center workers charged with involuntary manslaughter, including a nurse employed by Wellpath.

County leaders say their decision was based on a competitive bidding process this year with several companies, and in the end, NaphCare submitted the best proposal to meet the county's needs.

NaphCare will begin providing health services at the jail on September 1.