Corrections Needs More Funding for Inmate Medical Care

None by Lara Jones

(KCPW News) Just like the rest of America, the inmate population in Utah's prison system is aging. That means increased medical costs, state funding for which is lagging in general.

"Our population is aging, and so we do have to have adequate funding," says Tom Patterson, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections, which houses 6,550 inmates. "We feel like right now we are below our funding needs for our medical overall."

Patterson says Corrections repeatedly asks lawmakers to beef up medical funding for the prison system. This past session, Patterson was able to get another million dollars for medical needs that continually run in the red - but he says it's not enough:

"Well, right now, to get us up to speed with the changes in the rising health care, we need an approximately $1.5 million increase per year."

To hear more from Patterson, download a podcast of today's Midday Metro.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW