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GoogleOtterloo told county supervisors Tuesday he plans to contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare, of Illinois, at $2,417 a month for its "cost saving" services.
"We're averaging $1,300 to $1,400 a month in meds right now," Van Otterloo said. "That's half the cost of that contract and I think that's well worth the effort."
As part of its services, Advanced Correctional will absorb the cost of 95 percent of the prescription medications inmates in the jail use, Van Otterloo said.
In August and September inmate medications totaled $2,651, which is an average of about $1,300 per month. Last year the jail's bill for medications only was $16,747.
"That cost -- this company will be picking up for us," Van Otterloo said.
Advanced Correctional is able to do that, he said, by using generic medications and purchasing in quantities because it supplies multiple jails with prescription drugs.
The company would also help Van Otterloo negotiate agreements when it comes to payment plans for any facility that provides medical, prescription, mental health or other such resources to jail inmates in Plymouth County.
"I'm not here to say that local facilities haven't been working with us in the past," Van Otterloo said. "They've been very well to do that."
For example, he is currently working with two hospitals to hopefully have some of the county's $6,000 in bills forgiven. That cost accrued throughout a six-week period after one inmate had problems with his blood sugar, Van Otterloo said.
"But it's another negotiation talk to get through," Van Otterloo said. "I would like to have something more established, and again I think we can use this company to help me get that done."
In addition to absorbing prescription costs and negotiating agreements, the company also provides nursing and doctors' services, Van Otterloo said.
That would shift the decision as to when an inmate or someone going to jail needs treatment from the jailers to Advanced Correctional medical personnel, he said.
The jail's inmate room and board fund has money in it to hire Advanced Correctional Healthcare for a year to see whether its services would provide a cost savings to the county and are what they claim to be, Van Otterloo said.
"We don't have to enter into an agreement any longer than 30 days," Van Otterloo said. "So we're not locked in four or five or six years."
Using inmates' money to pay for their medical care is fitting, he said.
"I can't think of a better way to use that money," Van Otterloo said. "It's inmate money that the county has, and we can give this thing a try."
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I read an article about inmates paying for their stay in jail. Excellent idea, instead of saying " If you can't do the time, don't do the crime " now we can say " If you can't pay for the crime, don't do the crime " In some area's of our fine country, county jails are charging inmates up to $40.00 per day. Other jails are charging for tissue paper, meals or even watching TV. We are approaching winter in a few weeks, it would be interesting to see a study of how many people get sent to jail prior of the cold weather.
With the new town sign being decided on, instead of:" LE MARS, Ice Cream Capitol of the World," should it say:" LE MARS, Free Meds at the County Jail "
Sad to say, but the common law abiding citizen in the county or even the US cannot get healthcare, but if you do a crime landing in jail, your healthcare is paid for.
Think about it, the average citizen pays for their own food, transportation, health care clothing, facilities to reside in, and utilities to keep it comfortable; while working diligently to afford these.
If a citizen just became a crimininal, they could get all this for free and not have to work. Makes you wonder...
Here is another reason healthcare is expensive
"For example, he is currently working with two hospitals to hopefully have some of the county's $6,000 in bills forgiven."
Basically he wants to pass this cost onto the people that have use these two hospitals, good job Mike!
These inmates need to earn their keep
Just think, if there were single payer health care, we wouldn't even need to be having this conversation. The inmates would already have health care.
I also propose that the jail system be self sufficient. That way only the structure itself would cost the taxpayers. It can be done, easily.
Just think, if there were single payer health care, we wouldn't even need to be having this conversation. Because we would be broke!!!
The average cost varies from state prison to state prison, county jail to county jail to keep an inmate. Most prisons in our country it's around $45,000.00 to $52,000.00 per year. Inmates in a county jail about $40.00 to $60.00 per day and the cost is rising each year. Terminal inmates get better care than a terminal law abiding citizen w/o health insurance. Also non-violent life sentenced inmates over 60 years of age should be released, put on parole. I read that if the state prison would do that, the savings each year would in the hundreds of millions. I mean really, a 60 year old robbing a bank with his walker or cane?
Our country spends more money on prisoners in prison then they do on our homeless. I suppose if I lacked self-pride, was alone, sickly, and facing the cold winter ahead, prison would sound pretty d*mn good about now. I would receive 3 meals a day, comfortable warm safe place to sleep, watch TV or read a good book, exercise , take my free medication and even pursue another college degree. Not to mention all the free counseling I could take. I also would have a job so I could stay busy and earn commissary points to cover my cost on smokes, snacks, magazine, and personal items. Low income families don't even live that good.
Something is very wrong about the tax payer covering the cost of inmates medication, food, comfortable safe place to sleep and entertainment. My question is Who is really paying for the Crime, it appears it's the tax payer, not the inmate.
I agree Fadesharley. time for a change.
Cranemaster: "Just think, if there were single payer health care, we wouldn't even need to be having this conversation. Because we would be broke!!!"
The fact that we are the only industrialized nation on the planet without some sort universal healthcare is precisely why we are going broke.
My plan for the penal system would be taken in shifts by the inmates, 8 hours of sleep time, 8 hours work time, 8 hours of eating, counselling, and fitness. All meals would be paid for by the inmate with funds earned by working. The working would be cleaning, raising food, training animals for working (like dogs for companions), and other county needs like mowing, picking up trash etc. If the person failed to work and didn't want to earn money to eat with, then they don't get fed. there's a whole list that fits here that could accomplish more in the long run. Too much to write all at once.
Great ideas, ADifferentView. Seriously. But unfortunately, those things will never happen. The liberal approach is to coddle them and look out for their human rights. "Why should they have to pay for meals?" Assinine.
Thanks. Maybe if enough people considered it and saw results. maybe then it could happen. Incentives to stay out of the penal system should be apparent, being an inmate shouldn't be fun or easy. Thanks TuesdaysGone!
Templetons post has absolutley nothing to do with the topic at hand and is offensive to anyone with common sense.
Please Remove it.
Then again the more he says the less crediblity he has...oh what to do... lol
"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise..." Proverbs 17:28
I recall an archetypal character in Charlotte's Web (book by E.B. White, movie of the same name) named Templeton. What was his deal again? Hmmm...very interesting analogy...
Oh that Templeton and his pesky facts! *shakes fist* Let's all insult him and cry for his censorship!
Seriously guys, why not a rational discussion instead of using Bible verses and children's literature to personally insult one another?
I glanced at your blog when I was extremely bored one day...I've seen what you consider rational.
You sway with the Liberal wind..
(He believes in Manmade Global Warming, also..) LOL
Actually I see that Templeton's response is in direct line with the discussion, health care expenses and the jails, in response to others comments. Let's not be immature and attack each other, how about a civilized discussions of opinions with courtesy of other's views.
Being on the road a lot I have found that some people are very immature about discussions with differing opinions. Often, when someone disagrees and cannot defend their position, the result is usually name calling or direct insults instead of supporting their own view. Collective bandwagoning can happen as others join in the attack. Opportunistic and barbaric!
Maybe the nation has not grown enough to be able to handle a maturing world civilization. Maybe we aren't ready to handle the real world issues...
You're right "ADifferentView" I just get so tired of the outright bald faced lies of the Left.
My husband says I let my emotions get the best of me.
Templeton never lets the Truth get in the way of his facts...it is impossible to have a rational discussion with him or the rest of the hard left.
Lenin said, "To tell the truth is a petty bourgeois habit, whereas for us to lie is justified by our objectives."
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
~ Sir Winston Churchill
Clear Thinker, could you please point out where I've lied and back up your example with facts disputing what I said?
Could you also demonstrate how I am "hard Left" and define that term for us?
Could you also demonstrate where I've made it difficult to maintain a rational discussion?
Earlier, you quoted: "Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise..." Proverbs 17:28
You might want to think about what that means.
And if you think my man-made global warming theory is crazy, you should hear my wacky round-Earth theory!
Wait a minute.....the Earth's round?!!!
Only if you believe what that liberal academia with their ivory tower elitism tells you!