CHC Extends Its Reach In New Mexico Inmate Healthcare Coverage With Recent Contract Win

LOS LUNAS, N.M. - Feb. 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Correctional Healthcare Companies (CHC), a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services to U.S. correctional facilities, announced the recent win of a progressive jail healthcare contract in New Mexico. This contract covers more than the typical medical services offered to inmates in many county jails. “It’s our ground-breaking methods and localized expertise that helped CHC secure the winning bid. Besides the medical care we provide, CHC also offers a complete range of comprehensive mental and behavioral solutions to correctional health services,” said John Roth, Director of Business Development at CHC.

In winning the Valencia contract, CHC stressed success in similar situations and their specific experience in the New Mexico correctional healthcare system. According to Warden Joe Chavez of the Valencia County Detention Center, “Their experience from being familiar with other jails in New Mexico was the biggest part for us. We’re going to get the best professional care on medical and behavioral health...CHC are experts in that field.”

“We look forward to a long partnership with Valencia County and our growing presence in the State of New Mexico. Though we are a national provider of comprehensive medical, mental and behavioral healthcare solutions to the criminal justice system, it’s our local focus on inmate success and consistency of care that helps us stand out from the others,” explained Mack Weathers, National Director, Business Development for CHC.

The Valencia County signing comes at a time when CHC is well positioned to increase its correctional healthcare footprint throughout New Mexico as CHC has partnered with the nearby Bernalillo County Medical Detention Center (MDC) since 2010. Part of the consideration for the newest win and potential renewal of other contracts with CHC has been to assess the success rate of the specialized programs implemented by them during their initial years under contract. One such behavioral healthcare program, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), often is the keystone of CHC inmate accountability/behavior change courses and is designed to reduce violence and offender recidivism with consistent application. As a highly recognized program with 12 to 16 components, MRT is designed to guide participants towards increasing self-awareness, accepting responsibility for their own behavior and developing skills to take charge of their own lives. MRT has been implemented in 49 states and research shows it has a proven success rate in managing mental health issues, with increased compliance in medication treatment and counseling sessions.

CHC’s success at Bernalillo County over the last few years could likely set a precedent for other jurisdictions healthcare services around the U.S. “Rehabilitating individuals that abuse drugs and commit criminal activities, along with managing their mental health problems, has resulted in producing useful citizens with increased positive results for public safety of the community,” concluded CHC’s Mack Weathers. “We have worked diligently to upgrade all medical services, preventative care, pharmacy systems, wellness programs and case management; all while instituting evidence based programming for behavioral health inmates. A contract renewal will allow us the time to evaluate and develop our ongoing programming.”

With this award, CHC now is the medical provider for seven of New Mexico's 28 Adult Detention Centers as well as the healthcare provider for the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. Nationally, CHC currently manages medical care services for over 250 correctional facilities.

About Correctional Healthcare Companies: CHC is a national leader in inmate healthcare services management, providing comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral and pharmaceutical solutions, state-of-the-art service, and uncompromised value to their clients for 21 years. CHC currently serves correctional facilities throughout the United States and supports the provision of medical services to more than 70,000 detainees daily. Headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, CHC oversees more than 2,700 employees and contractors across the country. For more information call:  (866) 246-5245, email: info@correctioncare.com or visit www.correctioncare.com/ or www.estey-hoover.com