Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart has introduced legislation that would block another full-year renewal of the jail medical provider's contract while lawmakers complete a state-ordered review prompted by an inmate's preventable death.
The contract with PrimeCare Medical came under fire this summer after a federal lawsuit was filed by the family of Brian Harmon, who in 2023 died of sepsis from a urinary obstruction nine days after he was booked into the Monroe County Jail. A state investigation found PrimeCare staff failed to pursue key medical interventions that likely would have saved his life.
In a December 2025 report, the state Commission on Correction ordered Legislature President Yversha Román to conduct a fitness inquiry into the company.
The review was never completed. Jail officials renewed PrimeCare's $13.5 million contract two months later.
Barnhart previously said she learned about the state's directive from Democrat and Chronicle reporting in August.
After criticism from fellow lawmakers who said they were unaware of the directive, Román said she was seeking legal guidance on how to proceed with the inquiry.
Barnhart said the Legislature needs to act in the meantime. PrimeCare's current contract expires in January, but the sheriff's office is currently authorized to independently pursue another one-year renewal.
Barnhart's proposal would eliminate the sheriff's authority to pursue another one-year renewal without legislative approval and instead allow the Legislature to approve month-to-month extensions.
"We cannot undo the renewal that already occurred," Barnhart said in a statement. "But we can make sure another full-year renewal does not happen before the Legislature does the work the state directed us to do. This gives us time to conduct a meaningful review without jeopardizing continuity of medical care."
— Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on immigration, police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Proposal would block full-year PrimeCare renewal at Monroe County Jail
