The Butler County Prison.

The Butler County prison board has approved a two-year extension of the inmate healthcare contract and a contract for inmate communication and technology.

The contract extension with healthcare provider PrimeCare Medical Inc. will cost $259,858 per month in 2027. Future price increases will be based on the consumer price index, according to Warden Beau Sneddon at the prison board meeting held last week.

The contract includes an option for an additional one-year extension.

A five-year, $2.4 million contract the county had with PrimeCare expired Oct. 1, 2025. It was extended to Dec. 31 this year at a cost of $213,862 per month.

Inmate phones, video visits, mail, e-messaging, chirping, entertainment, educational courses and access to the law library are covered under the contract with Combined Public Communications.

The county will receive a 2-cent commission, the most allowed under Federal Communications Commission regulations, for inmates’ phone calls and video visits, and a $500,000 commission on the other services, which are not regulated.

The county commissioners will consider both contracts at their Sept. 23 meeting.