Corizon Health booted from Allegheny County amidst concerns

Mar 15, 2014 triblive.com/news

Allegheny County restored the security clearance of a union organizer who worked at the county jail, allowing her to return to her former position, county spokeswoman Amie Downs confirmed Tuesday. Sister Barbara Finch lost her county security clearance at the jail in January, a move she interpreted as a firing. Finch was a lead organizer among employees of Corizon Correctional Healthcare, a Tennessee-based medical contractor that serves the jail. Corizon and the United Steelworkers are expected to begin contract negotiations soon, according to a joint statement from both organizations. In a prepared statement, Corizon's interim chief operating officer, Carla Cesario, said the company had no control over the removal of Finch's security clearance. “We are moving forward and will remain focused on our mission of providing quality care,” Cesario said.

Mar 2, 2014 post-gazette.com

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner announced today that she plans to conduct an audit of the contract between the county and Corizon Health Inc., which was hired last year to run the infirmary at the Allegheny County Jail. Earlier this month, Ms. Wagner sent a letter to the CEO of Tennessee-based Corizon, saying she had “grave and serious concerns” about health care and working conditions at the jail. In a statement from her office today, she said she remains concerned. “I remain gravely concerned by the credible reports our office has received regarding substandard care at the jail,” she said in a statement. “I’ve raised these concerns publicly, including at the Jail Advisory Board and in writing to Corizon. Yet, the responses to my questions have likewise been substandard and certainly not what I would expect from an entity that receives more than $11 million in taxpayer money annually.”

Corizon, which is a national prison health care provider, signed a contract with the county last summer that pays $11.5 million for the first year. Its management of health services at the jail began Sept. 1. The audit will cover the period from Sept. 1 through today. “We have received the letter indicating the Controller wants to conduct an audit," said Corizon spokeswoman Susan Morgenstern. ."It’s important to note that we are working in close partnership with the county and jail leadership to fulfill our mission. Our focus remains on supporting our staff who provide quality care to patients in the jail every day.” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said his office welcome's the audit. "We welcome audits of any department that result in recommendations that add value, are measurable and improve our county operations," county spokeswoman Amie Downs said in a statement. "This contract just was entered into in September of 2013, so it may be difficult to measure its compliance with such a short window being available for review, but we look forward to the results."

 

Feb 15, 2014 triblive.com

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner threatened to penalize the jail's new health care provider if it does not improve its performance. Wagner said her office has received complaints that Tennessee-based Corizon Health Inc. failed to distribute medication and treat inmates with some mental health problems, according to a letter she sent to Corizon CEO Woodrow A. Myers. Corizon started offering care Sept. 1, but its “period of transition” has expired, Wagner wrote in the letter dated Monday. “I regard the current situation as intolerable and outrageous, and I fully expect necessary changes to be urgently implemented,” Wagner wrote. A Corizon spokeswoman said the company plans to respond to Wagner's concerns in writing. “We certainly share her focus on taking good care of patients at the Allegheny County Jail,” spokeswoman Susan Morgenstern said. Wagner, who is on the county's Jail Oversight Board, said the county could impose financial penalties outlined in Corizon's contract. Wagner's office could withhold payments to Corizon and audit its work at the jail, she said. Corizon's five-year contract could cost the county more than $62.55 million. Wagner expected a response soon and said waiting 60 or 90 days would be “stretching it.” Corizon officials did not attend the board's Feb. 6 meeting. Allegheny Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel, head of the oversight board, met with Corizon Tuesday. McDaniel did not return calls. Corizon employees at the jail are to vote Friday on whether to unionize under a branch of the United Steelworkers. Wagner said she supports the efforts of workers to unionize. Aaron Aupperlee is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.

Feb 8, 2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A nun who worked for five years as a registered nurse at the Allegheny County Jail infirmary was fired last week for spearheading unionization efforts, an organizer for the United Steelworkers union said Monday. Sister Barbara Finch, a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, had her security clearances revoked and was dismissed from her job Thursday after she expressed concerns about staffing, safety issues and patient care during meetings at the jail, said Randa Ruge, the union organizer. "It became clear that she was one of the leading activists in the organizing drive," Ms. Ruge said, referring to ongoing unionization efforts at the jail. Ms. Ruge described Sister Barbara as a "sacrificial lamb" and said that the union is "concerned that taxpayer dollars are being used for union-busting." The Steelworkers union on Friday filed an unfair labor practice charge against Corizon Health Inc., the Tennessee-based firm that manages county jail health services. The charge, sent to the National Labor Relation Board, is that Corizon dismissed her in retaliation for participating in union activities. "This is a clear case of intimidation and union-busting at its worst," United Steelworkers International president Leo W. Gerard said in a statement. "Sister Barbara has been an outspoken advocate of change for these courageous workers and their patients, and this kind of illegal and unjust action, unfortunately, is par for the course with Corizon." "It is our policy not to discuss personnel issues in the news media. I can confirm that we abide by all labor laws; if there is a question to address with the NLRB, we will do so," said Susan Morgenstern, a Corizon spokeswoman. An Allegheny County spokeswoman also declined comment. Union members, jail employees and other union advocates held a protest Downtown Monday, bringing attention to Sister Barbara's complaint and making known their support for the right of workers to unionize. Corizon took over management of Allegheny County Jail health services in September, after signing a contract with Allegheny County last summer for $11.4 million a year. Steelworkers representatives have said that, since Corizon took over, they've received reports of bad working conditions. In January, the union filed a labor petition to unionize about 110 members of the Allegheny County Jail medical staff. The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled an election Feb. 14.