San Diego County Supervisors Greenlight Jail Medical Overhaul While Denying Millions In Contractor Cost Overruns

County supervisors approved a jail medical services overhaul but denied 13.8 million dollars to contractor NaphCare over accountability concerns.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Strategic Pivot in Correctional Healthcare

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors took a decisive step toward restructuring medical services within the local carceral system during their Tuesday session. Supporting a proposal from Sheriff Kelly Martinez, the board authorized a plan to transition essential medical billing and administrative oversight from the current system to a new entity, AmeriChoice. This move signals a significant effort to modernize the logistical framework of jail health services, which have faced intense public and legal scrutiny over the past several years due to rising costs and service delivery challenges.

Rejection of Additional Contractor Funding

While the board supported the general overhaul, they stood firm against a request to provide 13.8 million dollars in additional taxpayer funds to NaphCare. The current healthcare contractor sought the money to address substantial cost overruns incurred during their tenure. Supervisors expressed deep reservations about providing the extra capital without more transparent documentation regarding how the existing budget was utilized. This denial highlights a growing friction between the county and its private contractors over the financial sustainability of outsourced medical care for inmates.

Demands for Enhanced Fiscal Accountability

During the deliberations at the County Administration Building, several supervisors emphasized that any further financial commitments must be preceded by a thorough audit of services and expenditures. The board indicated that the rejection of the 13.8 million dollars was not a final dismissal of the need for funds, but rather a demand for a higher standard of accountability. The consensus among the members was that the county cannot continue to absorb budget deficits for private partners without a clear understanding of the operational failures that led to the shortfalls.