Vanderburgh County Jail to Inmates: Pay Up for Health Care

Jails arent designed for comfort or convenience, but inmates have a way of adapting to life behind bars, and in some cases even taking advantage of the system. Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams wants to take away one perk that makes health care a great bargain for convicts in his jail. Williams wants to up the copay amount inmates in the Vanderburgh County Jail pay for doctor visits and prescriptions. Currently, it costs them just $10 to see a doctor, and $5 on a prescription. If an inmate cant afford to pay, the service is provided free of charge. Williams wants to take advantage of a new state ordinance that will allow him to raise copays to $15 for both services. He estimates the increase could cut his medical budget by $10,000 to $20,000 per year. Jail inmates received $750,000 in medical care and services last year. The Vanderburgh County Commissioners must give final approval for the copay hike, but approved the measure on first reading last week. Williams said the higher copays may discourage inmates from using a trip to the doctor as an excuse to get out of their cells. "By charging more, theyre less likely to call for it," Williams said. Inmates arent allowed to keep cash. Instead, each has whats known as a commissary account. Money is put into the commissary account, usually by family and friends, and the the inmate can debit the account for buying perk items from the jail store, including candy, snacks and soft drinks. Doctor and prescription refill copays are debited from commissary accounts. Current state law allows the jail to debit an inmates commissary account up to 30 days after a doctor visit or prescription refill. A second reading, and final approval of the measure, is expected at next weeks county commissioners meeting.