Wexford Health Sources
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Green Tree, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Mark Hale (President), Jim Roddey (former leadership) |
| Products | Medical, mental health, pharmacy, rehabilitation, utilization management, claims processing, and technology support services for correctional facilities |
Wexford Health Sources, Inc. operates as a healthcare service provider in the United States, with its main office located in Foster Plaza Two, Green Tree, Pennsylvania, in proximity to Pittsburgh.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) utilizes Wexford's services to manage medical care for inmates within state-run correctional institutions. In 2008, Steve Twedt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette characterized Wexford as "one of the most successful local firms that remain largely unknown," highlighting leadership by former Allegheny County chief executive Jim Roddey. At that period, company president Mark Hale kept a low public profile due to the sensitive and litigious nature associated with their inmate clientele.
History
Established in 1992, Wexford secured a $95 million agreement spanning three years in 2006 to provide a full range of healthcare services—including medical, mental health, pharmacy, rehabilitation, utilization management, claims processing, and technology support—to more than 14,000 inmates housed in 34 Mississippi correctional facilities. Contracts for four privately operated Mississippi prisons were subsequently awarded to Health Assurance LLC, owned by Dr. Carl Reddix. Wexford was contracted to deliver inmate healthcare at Walnut Grove Correctional Facility beginning in 2008, with a renewal in 2011; later contracts involved transfers for East Mississippi Correctional Facility and Marshall County Correctional Facility in 2012 and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in 2013. In 2016, Dr. Reddix faced indictment on charges related to bribery involving state Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps.
Controversies
A report published in October 2013 by the American Friends Service Committee documented persistent problems attributed to Wexford across various states, including insufficient staffing levels, delays in delivering medical care, and excessive billing for personnel. The company incurred multiple fines: $12,500 imposed by New Mexico’s Department of Corrections in 2006; $106,000 from Ohio’s Correction Department in 2009; $50,000 levied by Chesapeake, Virginia in 2006; a cumulative $273,000 from Florida’s Department of Corrections in 2005 related to service deficiencies; and $68,000 from Florida’s Broward Sheriff's Office in 2003 due to delays in medical attention.
An investigative report aired on America Tonight in 2014 revealed instances of substandard treatment and demonstrated that Wexford knowingly infringed upon inmates’ constitutional rights within Arizona. A prominent case involved Regan Clarine, a pregnant prisoner who was compelled to undergo a cesarean section; her post-surgical wound care included outdated treatment using sugar.
On February 8, 2017, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed suit against Wexford Health Sources among other entities for allegedly participating in corrupt contracting practices with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and former Commissioner Chris Epps. The legal action cited breaches of public ethics regulations, racketeering statutes, antitrust laws, and additional legal provisions.