Posted: 1/23/07
Resolution aimed at cutting medical costs at jail
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
The Houston County board wants to decrease medical costs of inmates at the jail.
Commissioners passed a motion on January 16 in support of a resolution to change state law involving medical coverage for jail inmates.
Currently Medicare and Medicaid coverage for inmates ceases when they are booked into county jails. The resolution, which was written by the Association of Minnesota Counties, would continue Medicare and Medicaid after an arrest.
The county paid $39,519.60 in medical fees for inmates from January 1 to October 1, 2006, jail administrator Mark Schiltz told The Argus on January 17. Drug and medicine costs for inmates for that same period were $10,259.14.
"It appears to be that people that come to jail are on medications, so we have to continue with them on medications," Schiltz said. Mental illness, cardiac problems, and diabetes are common ailments, Schiltz said. Doctor visits are sometimes required, Schiltz added.
The county would not pay if inmates had their own insurance, Schiltz said. But inmates often have jobs that donít have health care benefits, he said.
There are businesses that offer discounted rates on medications to jails, and the county is researching that, Schiltz said. He has looked at it in the past, but it didnít benefit the county because of the cost of shipping.
Another way to save money would be through "telehealth," where inmates could confer with doctors on-line. A new jail would make that more feasible, Schiltz said. "Weíre not set up for that at all right now," he said. "Thatís something else thatís being explored."
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