NCJ Number
207951
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2004 Pages: 10-29
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton M.S.
Date Published
November 2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article reports the results of a survey of United States correctional system spending on inmate health care services.
Abstract
Five years ago, 41 United States correctional systems spent almost $2 billion for inmate health care services. The information provided by the 44 United States correctional systems that responded to the current survey, conducted 5 years following the first survey, revealed that the amount currently spent on inmate health care has nearly doubled, reaching $4 billion. Budgeted amounts for inmate health care expenditures ranged from a low of 5 percent in Wisconsin to a high of 24.9 percent in South Dakota. More than 75 percent of responding correctional systems showed increases in their budgets for inmate health care, while decreases in this budget line occurred in 14 percent of responding systems. The availability of specialty services was also explored; over 90 percent of responding systems offered gynecological and related services for female inmates. HIV/AIDS testing is conducted at intake by 50 percent of reporting systems, while 77 percent test upon inmate request and 80 percent test upon a physician’s request. Tuberculosis testing is conducted at intake by 98 percent of reporting systems, 30 percent test at an inmate’s request, and 64 percent test at a physician’s request. The survey also reported on the availability of telemedicine, inmate co-pays for medical services, and the provision of medications upon release, which is offered by 100 percent of reporting systems. Tables