The Western Virginia Regional Jail has contracted with a private health care management company to provide medical services to inmates once the facility opens in 2009.

The $1.7 million contract was awarded to Conmed Healthcare Management to provide comprehensive medical services including dental, mental and pharmaceutical services.

The publicly traded company will have the option to renew the annual contract for three years.

The contract also provides for additional per diem rates as the inmate population increases beyond the initial 550 prisoners.

Conmed has begun advertising for various health care employment opportunities at the jail and said it will begin staffing the facility in February.