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Fulton County approves new contract for jail health care after 5 die

Akiyoshi Metts, left, is comforted by her aunt Carla Butler, at the site of her mother’s grave on her mother’s (Renee Metts) birthday, Monday, Nov.13, 2017 in in Palmetto, Ga. Fulton County is terminating a contract it had for Morehouse School of Medicine to provide medical care for its inmates because, according to a letter, its doctors had failed to provide adequate care. Jail officials attribute at least five inmate deaths to that sub-par care. (Contributed by John Amis) AJC FILE PHOTO
Akiyoshi Metts, left, is comforted by her aunt Carla Butler, at the site of her mother’s grave on her mother’s (Renee Metts) birthday, Monday, Nov.13, 2017 in in Palmetto, Ga. Fulton County is terminating a contract it had for Morehouse School of Medicine to provide medical care for its inmates because, according to a letter, its doctors had failed to provide adequate care. Jail officials attribute at least five inmate deaths to that sub-par care. (Contributed by John Amis) AJC FILE PHOTO
Arielle Kass
By Arielle Kass

Fulton County commissioners agreed Wednesday to a new contract to provide health care at the Fulton County jail, after five inmates died there in 75 days.

The new, $20.7 million contract with Alabama-based NaphCare will go into effect Jan. 1. It replaces a contract with Tennessee-based Correct Care Solutions, in conjunction with the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Commissioners decided not to renew the contract with Correct Care and Morehouse, saying the jail had not been adequately staffed since the contract went into effect.

In statements and responses to the county's complaints, representatives of Correct Care and Morehouse said they were committed to providing appropriate care. They will continue service through the end of the year.