NCJ Number
202711
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 28 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 9-21
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
October 2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The findings from a 2002 survey of health care in 39 U.S. correctional systems and 6 Canadian systems pertain to budgets, staffing, testing and treatment, medical co-pay procedures, release services, and contracted services.
Abstract
Actual expenditures for inmate health care in the U.S. correctional systems reached nearly $2.7 billion, ranging from a 7.4-percent allocation of the total Department of Corrections budget in Illinois to a 21-percent allocation in South Dakota. Medical co-pay plans were operating in 30 U.S. systems responding to the survey; they ranged from $2 to $5 per visit, including inmate-initiated visits. Medications were provided to inmates upon release by all the systems, except New Hampshire, in widely varying quantities. Thirty-eight U.S. systems and 6 Canadian systems listed treatments provided through contracted services. Except for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, testing for communicable diseases was conducted at intake by 92 percent of the U.S. systems. Testing was done at an inmate's request in 46 percent of the U.S. systems and by a physician's request in 87 percent. Other reasons cited for conducting testing were "when warranted" or as part of an investigation of an outbreak or exposure. Sixteen of the 35 systems that were able to report on staffing data reported that their health-care staffing patterns for the past year remained static; and 31 percent increased staff, primarily due to population increases or shifts, increased charges for services by contract providers, opening new facilities, or adding beds. Correctional Service Canada reported that expanded health promotion programs caused its staffing increase. 5 tables