The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted June 25 to approve a contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare Inc. for jail medical services covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, after staff described a modest cost increase driven by credentialing changes required by the contractor.

County staff and Sheriff Gustafson told the board the contract includes roughly a $6,000 increase compared with the prior year. Staff said the contractor is moving more of its nursing staff to registered nurse (RN) staffing because of liability concerns, and that raises wages for RN-level shifts. Board members and staff discussed negotiating pricing and said they will evaluate the contract again in six months and explore competitive bids next year.

Sheriff Gustafson described operational benefits of the contract, including local triage and on-call medical oversight that decrease trips to the hospital and allow some mobile imaging and testing to be performed at the jail. Board members said those service reductions in outside transports help contain overall costs.

Action taken: Commissioner Dorn moved to approve the agreement; Commissioner Jurgens seconded. The motion passed unanimously by roll call at the June 25 meeting.

Board members also asked staff to review whether the county can solicit other vendors before the next renewal cycle. Sheriff Gustafson and county staff said they may negotiate additional performance reviews at the six-month mark and consider competitive procurement next year.