PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Appalachian Regional Healthcare has filed a lawsuit against Pike County, claiming the county owes more than $3.2 million for medical care provided to inmates at the Pike County Detention Center.

The complaint, filed in Pike Circuit Court, names the county and Jailer Brian Morris as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, ARH provided medical, dental and psychological care to indigent inmates, which state law requires the county to pay for. The health system claims it has billed the county and received payments in the past, but says more than $3.2 million in charges remain unpaid.

The complaint includes a list of 91 unpaid accounts, dating from March 2021 to Sept. 2025. The list notes that all of the bills are for inpatient psychiatric services, with the charges per patient running from $8,861 on the low end, to more than $327,000 for one inmate who was treated for two months.

The suit alleges breach of contract and unjust enrichment, and is seeking full payment of the balance, along with interest, attorney’s fees and other costs.

The case is now pending in Pike Circuit Court.

A copy of the complaint follows: