SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane County Jail has spent the last several months searching for a new medical provider after NaphCare announced its intent to end services in 2026.
NaphCare has been the jail’s medical provider since 2017.
In the County Comissioner’s meeting Monday, presenters saying that with the comissioner’s vote, they would enter into a contract with Mediko Correctional Healthcare. A contract worth $15.79 million.
Chief of Detention Services in Spokane County Don Hooper and Lieutenant Darren Lehman, who oversees medical and mental health services, explained the jail’s medical responsibilities.
“I think one of the biggest things that we’re combating right now, is, you know drugs and alcohol use and withdrawls,” Lehman said. “Its really when they come into jail, they’re going to see, symptoms related to the substance use.”
Lehman and Hooper also explained that every type of medical emergency occurring outside jail can also happen inside the jail as well.
“Whether it be somebody who has prescription medications that they have to receive on a daily basis, some dietary needs, dental and anything related to mental health is a component of that too,” Lehman said.
Prior to NaphCare, medical services were managed in-house. Making that transition, nearly 9 years ago, Lehman explained, was intense.
Even though transitioning between vendors is less of a procedural shift, Lehman told NonStop Local it’s still complicated.
“All those documents and records, that we’ve done to care for somebody need to be transferred over so we can continue with quality care,” Lehman said.
Spokane County Jail and Geiger Correction Center provides care for nearly 800 inmates.
“We have 750 people in custody, and we’re taking care of their basic medical needs, just like you would in the community,” Hooper said.
Lehman says the transition process from NaphCare to Mediko will begin as soon as the Mediko contract is finalized by county commissioners.
“As much as we can do up front we’re going to do up front,” Lehman said. “The goal (for the inmates) is just for them to not even know what happened.”
Lehman and Hooper also say that the transition will include making sure staff is confident and ready to address Spokane County Inmate’s needs.
And while jail medical care is a consitutional requirement under the eighth amendment, Hooper explained there’s more to it.
“It’s also the right thing to do,” Hooper said.
