By: Geoffrey Reese

I have been incarcerated and in the custody of the Maine State Prison since 2009, which is one of less than six facilities operated by the Maine Department of Corrections (“MDOC” and “MSP” hereafter). Health care services are contracted through a bidding process, to include, but not limited to: medical; dental; optometry; physical therapy; psychiatry; psychology; substance abuse, social work, and behavioral health. The MDOC formerly had a contract with the healthcare service provider Corizon (over a decade ago). Then, it changed and entered into a contractual agreement with Correct Care Solutions (CCS) Around the year 2014. Years later, “CCS” changed their company name to: “Wellpath”. The company has had bad publicity ranging from CNN (2019) to the Atlantic magazine, and more.

        I acquired their voluminous (300+ pages) contractual agreement early in their administration of healthcare services for the MDOC. I also familiarized myself with all applicable MDOC policies relative to their contractual obligation and duty, which I am now well-versed in. Lastly, as a jailhouse lawyer and self-educated litigant, I also researched constitutional and civil law governing the legal standards and laws that apply to medical malpractice, professional negligence, indifference, and civil rights retained by prisoners. I believe that, “it is easy to be misled whenever you are uninformed,” and, that “you only retain the rights that you are willing to defend.” That said, I am not “speculating”, nor making ‘baseless’ assertions. Wellpath boasts a litigation record of 0.

        First, the problematic issues are systemic, in that they involve, but aren’t limited to: (1) lack of adequate staffing; (2) failure to sufficiently train (3) lack of any form of training, and performance evaluations; (4) poor administrative oversight and supervision; and (5) ongoing deficiencies in operations. It is the corporate office’s responsibility to ensure and manage sufficient staffing at all correctional facilities within the M.D.O.C as is necessary to administer health services in accordance with their contractual agreement. One of the most frequent excuses for delayed access to care & treatment is staffing.

      Secondly, Wellpath hires and promotes from within medical personnel, and health care administrators, whom either are without relevant background and/or experience, or, they fail to train their staff pursuant to their own policy/practices, as well as, those of MDOC. In addition. There is a lack of proper supervision at all levels. Most importantly, their needs to be performance evaluations at least annually for charge Nurses, Director, and any medical administrators. This is a major contributor to the litany of issues and the perpetuation of the problem. Wellpath is a corrupt enterprise whose former CEO was convicted for the federal crime of bribery and fraud.

   In closing, anyone with information, strategies or legal advice, please write me, or, send an email for a prompt reply: ([email protected]) and MAINE STATE PRISON 807 CUSHING ROAD WARREN, ME 04864-4600