Iowa prison system considering farming out health care positions, DOC email says

DES MOINES — Nurses and other health care staff in Iowa’s state-run prison system would be employed by a private company under a request for proposal that the state will release soon, according to an email sent Monday by the Iowa Department of Corrections to its medical staff.

The Gazette obtained a copy of the email, which was verified Monday by AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Todd Copley.

“The intent of the RFP is to explore a sustainable, high quality healthcare system that meets the needs of (incarcerated individuals) while aligning with the IDOC’s mission of public safety and rehabilitation,” the DOC email says.

The email says the “exploratory RFP” will be released “soon,” and if a company is selected, there will be “a planned transition period.”

If the state contracts with a private company to provide health care in its prison system, current Iowa DOC health care staff would be subjected to “retention interviews” to “ensure all staff complete orientation and training in advance of service implementation,” the DOC email says.

Copley said he estimates the changes would impact roughly 200 Iowa Corrections health care staff. Copley said he believed the proposal would impact nurses, psychiatrists, dental hygienists and other medical staff.

The Iowa Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

“IDOC values the contributions of their healthcare professionals,” the DOC email says. “Healthcare staff does an outstanding job delivering healthcare services to the (incarcerated individuals) and staff. IDOC wants to support their healthcare workers by bringing in more resources to expand services.”

According to the DOC email, the RFP will “explore medical services, care coordination, identify cost efficiencies, and meet ongoing healthcare demands.” If a company is awarded a state contract, it would “be the employer for all DOC healthcare staff to ensure consistency and continuity; and maintain compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.”

In the email, the DOC says it is exploring an external provider for health care needs because of “ongoing challenges such as staff shortages, rising pharmaceutical and transport costs, demands on staff time, and a growing need to expand mental health and substance abuse treatment.”

The DOC, in its email, said it is pursuing the potential changes because, “As stewards of public resources and the responsibility of healthcare for individuals under our supervision, the IDOC has a responsibility to explore sustainable solutions.” The email says rising health care and pharmaceutical costs require DOC “to explore a different approach” and that partnering with a private health care company “offers an opportunity to strengthen service delivery, improve health outcomes, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.”

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Copley said he asked Iowa DOC officials why the burden falls on workers, and that he believes privatizing the prison system’s health care staff will only increase costs in the long run. Copley also said he fears any DOC health care staff who are offered to keep their job under a private company will be paid less.

“You’re not seeing the forest through the trees here,” Copley said of the DOC. “Is it going to save money, or is it going to cost money?”

As of Monday, there was no RFP on the state’s website for active bids.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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