(Getty Images)
A legislative committee on Tuesday forwarded a $235.5 million medical contract for the Arkansas Department of Corrections to the Arkansas Legislative Council for final approval on Friday, but the deal still faces significant opposition from key lawmakers.
The contract presented to the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Review subcommittee represents the first two years of a potential ten-year $1.5 billion contract with Wellpath to provide comprehensive medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health services for inmates and offenders in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
The panel approved the review of the contract on Tuesday after some lawmakers tried to hold it over concerns that pricing was not considered for all vendors during the procurement process.
The Arkansas Board of Corrections approved the contract in July, but it must receive final approval from lawmakers. The Department of Corrections has contracted with Wellpath, previously known as Correct Care Solutions, for more than a decade.