The state Supreme Court dropped a lump of coal — and a potentially costly one at that — into taxpayers’ stockings with its ruling regarding inmate medical care.
The court ruled 8-0 in December that counties are liable for inmates’ medical care even if the ailments predate their arrival at the jail. The decision came in a dispute involving the Oklahoma County jail, which had refused $2.2 million in payments for some prisoners during a three-year span because the care was for inmates’ pre-existing medical conditions.
The Supreme Court noted that state law says a provider of medical treatment to the incarcerated can seek payment from the inmate and the county. Since many inmates are indigent or lack extensive financial means, county jails most often will wind up on the hook for those expenses.
The ruling is a severe blow for counties — devastating was the adjective used by Dave Herbert, who lobbies for county officials. Herbert made the point that in the large majority of cases, county jail inmates have been arrested for state crimes but are held at the county lockup.
While Oklahoma and Tulsa counties will be hit hard because they house the largest county jails, so too will smaller counties. Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn said a county with a small jail budget could be pinched financially by just one inmate with a heart condition.
Vaughn wants help from the Legislature, where he served 16 years. He’ll seek a bill that amends the law to say counties are excluded from having to pay inmates’ care for pre-existing conditions. Vaughn said providers would still be able to seek reimbursement through Medicaid and from a state fund already in place.
We’ll see if his former colleagues come to the rescue.
— The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Opinion
In our view: Inmate medical care
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
