Horry County Council is meeting Tuesday night, and among items on the agenda is a resolution to privatize medical, dental, and mental health services for inmates at J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
Jail Director Tom Fox says they treat about 14,000 inmates a year.
Of 600 inmates housed daily at J. Rueben Long, 33 to 35 percent regularly receive medical attention.
Right now, the medical services are handled at the detention center. A staff of nurses and medical professionals such as lab technicians work as employees of the jail. The jail contracts out a doctor. In addition, weekly mental services and as needed dental services are contracted out.
All of those are paid for by county tax dollars.
The county is considering whether to privatize medical, dental, and mental health services through one private company.
Fox says there would be cost savings of about $75,000 with the proposed privatization.
Right now, 22 employees are employed through the county jail in the medical department. Fox says they will have the oppurtunity to reapply for their jobs with the private company if the resolution passes Tuesday night.
He adds that if it does pass, an outside company could take over by October 1st.
Newschannel15's Lindsey Theis is at the county council meeting and will have a report tonight at 11.
