HARRISVILLE – A proposal from Alcona County Sheriff Doug Atchison could change how health care is provided to county inmates.

Atchison discussed going with a private health care provider service to the jail during a Wednesday meeting of the Alcona County Board of Commissioners.

He said there were better services at a cheaper price than going with the current service provided by Dr. Greg Hannert, who is also the county’s medical examiner.

Atchison said he heard about the Advance Correctional Health Care service from Bob Koenig, the former jail administrator in Iosco County.

“He spoke highly of them,” Atchison said. “I have talked to Iosco County Sheriff Allan MacGregor and he spoke highly of them as well. And they’re in use in Alpena and Presque Isle.”

Atchison said through his research he found the service can provide medical services to jails much cheaper than Alcona County’s current agreement with Hannert, which is $42,000 a year, in addition to $9,000 for prescriptions to inmates.

“They can provide the same services and a good chunk more for $39,853, for a savings right around $12,000 for the county,” Atchison said.

The services provided by the company include having a licensed practical nurse visit the jail eight hours a week, a doctor every two weeks, and different ways to provide medications, in prepacked blister packs, so medication does not have to be stored on site.

“You no longer have to worry about the bottles and the accountability or things like that,” he said, adding other jail administrators have highly recommended the service.

Commissioner Carolyn Brummund asked how long the contract is with the current health service provider.

Atchison said there is a 60-day window for Hannert. He said he has no draft contract from the company yet, but said if approved he would like to see an Aug. 1 start date.

Brummund said she was concerned that even though it may be a better cost-saving program it could hurt the county in the long run.

“I would not jump because of just the saving of $12,000,” she said.

Brummund said if Hannert is no longer utilized for jail medical services, he may not want to be the county’s contractual medical examiner, or may hike his rate.

Atchison said he wanted to get more for the money spent on the services.

“I am not going to sit here and sling mud, but the services are far beyond than what we’re getting now,” he said.

Commissioner Sheila Phillips said she liked the savings and the services, but worried along with Brummund whether it could impact the medical examiner issue.

Boyat asked Atchison to look more into the service and see what a contract would be. The board took no action on the potential new service.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews. Read his blog, Sunny side up, with Jason at www.thealpenanews.com.