FL:Volusia poised to swap care for jail's mentally ill

Volusia poised to swap care for jail's mentally ill
Rachael Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
September 5, 2008
After pressure from mental-health activists alleging inhumane care at the county jail, the Volusia County Council is considering hiring a local medical provider.

Prison Health Services has been criticized, particularly for denying medications to mental-health patients, since it was hired in 2005. On Thursday, council members said they want to partner with ACT Corp., a Volusia County group, for mental-health care and continue to use Prison Health Services for other medical needs.

The council will make a final decision at its Sept. 18 meeting. A yearlong contract for all services with PHS would have been about $7.5 million, but officials could not say what the price difference would be with the change.

The decision was met with relief from about 30 members of Fighting Against Injustice and Toward Harmony, a Volusia County group.
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