Carbon County is spending nearly $1.2 million a year on a new medical provider for the prison.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners approved three motions regarding the changes of services at the correctional facility.

The county voted to begin the process to withdraw from the Pennsylvania Inmate Medical Cost Containment program, effective May 2, as well as provide 90-day notice of termination for the vendors that supplied medical services at the prison under the PIMCC agreement.

The board also voted to enter into an agreement with Prime Care Medical Inc. of Harrisburg to provide health care services for all inmates at the prison, including mental health, dental, medical and other related health care services, as well as staffing and electronics record keeping. The contract begins May 2 and lasts through April 30, 2027.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the county had issues in the past with the availability of medical personnel when the prison needed them.

“We were falling short with trying to meet our need,” he said, noting that someone wasn’t always available when they were needed for medical services under the contract.

The cost for the county will be $97,902.82 a month for up to 200 inmates with an additional per diem charge of $2.67 per inmate for a population over 200.

“It’s going to be a huge expense to the county but it’s something that we have, not only us but the prison board, has been talking about for some time.”

Nothstein added that the biggest difference the county will receive is it will now have significantly better coverage, including around-the-clock coverage, more staff and telemedicine options.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said this contract will bring all services under one umbrella instead of having numerous contracts for services.

Carbon County had contracted through the PIMCC program since November 2011, shortly after Act 22 was signed into law. The law capped inpatient hospital care for most county and state inmates at Medicaid rates, and outpatient care at Medicare rates.