Cleveland's MetroHealth pressed to run jail medical services

Cuyahoga County's new government leaders want MetroHealth Medical Center to take over medical services at the county jail to improve efficiency, but the county-owned hospital has resisted the move. MetroHealth trustees last year rejected a proposal to provide medical care at the jail, which houses around 2,000 inmates. The hospital balked because it does not have expertise in "correctional medicine," a spokeswoman said this week. But County Council members elected under the new charter government intend to press the issue, and have said they expect MetroHealth to justify its annual subsidy from the county, which this year is $36 million. Council's insistence reflects desire to assert greater authority over the MetroHealth system.