Cochise County supervisors approve one-year PetraMed contract for medical director oversight

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 25 voted 3-0 to approve a one-year medical director oversight and support contract with PetraMed LLC for Cochise County Health and Social Services and detention medical services.

Supervisor Gomez moved to approve the contract, and Supervisor Crosby seconded. The board recessed into an executive session to discuss related personnel and contract matters before returning to the public meeting; the chair announced the motion carried 3 to 0 after the public discussion. The vote included supervisors Crosby, Gomez and Antonory voting in favor.

Miss Gilman, who presented the item for staff, said the county conducted a request for proposals, interviewed three applicants and recommended PetraMed LLC based on the company’s qualifications. She said the contract term is one year, effective Nov. 25 and ending Nov. 24, 2026, and that staff plans to issue a new RFP in the coming year to broaden outreach and solicit additional proposals.

Barb, a county staff member who reviewed contract edits, said the contract language was streamlined and that certain timelines were adjusted. During the exchange, staff and supervisors discussed a change to a notification/response timeline that involved a 30-day versus 5-day period; participants briefly disputed the phrasing while clarifying the revised timeline in the contract language.

Supervisor Crosby moved the board into executive session citing a statute as written in the meeting record ("ARS 38 4 31.03"); the board conducted the executive session with a limited set of attendees before resuming the public agenda item. No additional public action was taken beyond the vote to approve the PetraMed contract.

The board scheduled a special executive session for Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. to continue county business.

Actions recorded at the meeting were limited to the approval of the PetraMed contract as described.