Illinois awards $4B contract to private prison health care company accused of substandard care

By John O’Connor Associated Press

Posted January 29, 2024 12:01 PM

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois has awarded a more than $4 billion prison medical care contract to the same company it’s used for three decades, despite multimillion-dollar lawsuits against the firm and statewide complaints alleging substandard care.Pittsburgh-based Wexford Health Sources was one of two companies responding to a request for proposals from the Illinois Department of Corrections, but it was not the low bidder. Wexford’s offer came in $673 million higher than one from VitalCore Health Strategies of …

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