Contact: Brian Rothgery, 414-278-4230
or brian.rothgery@milwaukeecountywi.gov
Committee Approves Measure to Ensure Delivery of Quality Healthcare
MILWAUKEE – The Finance and Audit Committee approved (7 – 0) a proposal from Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., today that recommends Milwaukee County directly provide inmate medical services, rather than continue contracting with an outside, private vendor.
Milwaukee County has an opportunity to do the right thing and ensure we are providing quality healthcare at all of our facilities by bringing the provision of Jail and House of Corrections medical services in-house. Moving away from Armor is the first part of doing the right thing. I was opposed to Armor and the privatization of medical services five years ago and I’m opposed to it now. Armor failed to live up to their promises of better quality, and I have zero confidence in another profit-motivated vendor taking over. I believe Milwaukee County employees are best suited to delivering the quality of care and level of integrity that taxpayers expect and deserve,” said Lipscomb.
Lipscomb presented the idea to the committee while it was considering a report on the status of the county’s contract with Armor Correctional Health Services, Inc.
In 2013, a judge ordered Milwaukee County to contract with Armor, over the objections of the County Board, citing the County’s struggle to meet staffing criteria set by a legal settlement known as the Christensen Decree.
