Warren, Markey Urge Massachusetts Department of Correction to Carefully Review Corizon and Wellpath Bids and Maximize Accountability of Health Services Provider in State Prisons

Letter

Dear Commissioner Mici:
As you evaluate bidders for a new contract to provide health services in Massachusetts prisons,
we write to provide you with information received through congressional investigations about
two possible bidders, Wellpath and YesCare (formerly known as Corizon Health Inc.). We hope
you will carefully consider this information as you move forward with your decision.
The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DoC) currently contracts with Wellpath for the
provision of prison health care services in 14 locations. That contract is set to expire in June
2024. The DoC plans to select a bidder by the end of March 2024, with the new contract set to
begin July 1, 2024. Final bids were due on Monday, January 29, 2024. While the final list of
bidders has not been made public, we understand that the DoC received bid intent forms from
seven vendors, including Wellpath and YesCare (“Corizon”).

Both Wellpath and Corizon were the subjects of recent congressional oversight because of their
health care records in jails and prisons across the country. We are writing to share those oversight findings, which are summarized in the attached letters. We are also writing to share
Wellpath’s and Corizon’s responses to those oversight letters (attached).

Regardless of which bidder is ultimately selected, the DoC should employ robust oversight
mechanisms to ensure the contractor provides an adequate standard of care. This must include
staffing a sufficient number of qualified health providers, following physician treatment plans,
promptly responding to incarcerated individuals’ requests for medical attention, providing
appropriate mental health care, and ensuring that incarcerated patients can access advanced
medical care in a timely fashion outside of the facility when needed. The contractor must also
provide pre-release health services that support a healthy return to society for individuals leaving
carceral facilities — a goal that Massachusetts has prioritized.

The DoC’s Request for Response (RFR), which was developed with input from stakeholders
during this contractor selection process, requires the incoming health care contractor to meet a
somewhat more rigorous standard of service provision than was required under previous
administrations. The DoC should also ensure sufficient monitoring of the health contractor’s
operations in its facilities, meaningful channels for incarcerated individuals to report problems
with the contractor without facing retribution, and the imposition of penalties on the contractor
for noncompliance.
Such oversight measures will advance the DoC’s goal of ensuring that its health contractor
increases the quality of care in Massachusetts prisons, demonstrates accountability, and improves the experiences of incarcerated individuals who seek care. We hope you will carefully consider the congressional oversight findings as you move forward with your decision, and we trust that you will implement robust measures to monitor the performance of the contractor that you select. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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