THIS
BLOG WAS WRITTEN IN JANUARY, 2015.
Virginia
DOC recently settled the pending class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of the
1200 female inmates at Fluvanna Correctional Center. The lawsuit alleged that
the women were receiving inadequate medical care. A court appointed monitor
will be named to reform health care services at the facility and VDOC has
agreed to revise department policies regarding health care.
At
the same time, the department faces a $45 million shortfall in inmate
healthcare through next year. DOC had contracted with Corizon (a “for-profit”
prison medical provider) to manage medical care in 17 facilities, but Corizon
withdrew mid-contract because it found it could not meet its profit goal and
fulfill its contract obligations. Another “for-profit” medical corporation –
Armor – has temporarily taken over medical care in those 17 prisons which has
led to a further $14.4 million shortfall in the DOC medical budget this year.
Finally,
DOC acknowledged that there are 23 active hepatitis C patients who can benefit
from the newest drug treatment protocol (that number will go to 50 next year)
however, only $750,000 was budgeted – each 12 week treatment costs $84,000 per
person – creating another budget deficit.
“DOC”
could be an acronym for “draining our state coffers.” What a continuing waste
of money … and lives. Isn’t it time for change?
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