TNC
04-10-2004, 09:07 AM
Idaho's NewsChannel 7
The Ada County jail wants inmates to pay part of their medical bills. Some argue it’s an unfair plan.
Family and friends can leave money for inmates at the Ada County jail - money thats spent at the commissary to buy phone cards and paper, candy or soup.
A new policy at the jail now requires inmates to set aside part of their money to cover medical costs, whether they plan on seeing the doctor or not.
“We changed that to put a $15 buffer in place to say that before you can buy candy bars and chips, you need to have $15 in your account to cover any medical expenses you may have," said Ada County Under-sheriff Gary Raney.
Under-sheriff Raney says inmate medical care cost the county $1.2 million last year. Only $8,000 of that was paid for by the inmates or their families.
"You want to go see the doctor? We'll pay 1.2 million of that bill, but you know what? You need to chip in your five bucks," said Raney.
Raney says all too often, inmates would receive money from family or friends then spend it at the commissary on things they wanted, leaving no money to cover medical care they needed.
As of April 1st, the jail is charging inmates $5 for most doctors’ visits, another $5 for prescriptions. The new policy also requires the first $15 of an inmate’s commissary fund to cover the costs.
"I don't have the money this month to go and put on his books. That $15 they took off, he could've had for this month. I don't have it. I can't afford it," said inmate fiancé Jillian Otero.
Otero tries to deposit money in her fiancé’s commissary fund every month but says she only gives him enough to pay for a phone card, stationary, and soap. She says the new $15 medical deposit means her fiancé will go without.
Otero and other family members of inmates argue they should only be required to pay for care the inmates need and say it's simply unfair to hold money for something they may never use.
“How fair is it if someone only gets $5, they take that away and leave them completely broke?” asked inmate fiancé Rebeckah Basey.
Raney estimates the new plan should recoup about $200,000 in medical expenses at the jail.
Any money not used by the inmates will be given back to them when they leave the jail, but family members say that does them little good.
The Ada County jail wants inmates to pay part of their medical bills. Some argue it’s an unfair plan.
Family and friends can leave money for inmates at the Ada County jail - money thats spent at the commissary to buy phone cards and paper, candy or soup.
A new policy at the jail now requires inmates to set aside part of their money to cover medical costs, whether they plan on seeing the doctor or not.
“We changed that to put a $15 buffer in place to say that before you can buy candy bars and chips, you need to have $15 in your account to cover any medical expenses you may have," said Ada County Under-sheriff Gary Raney.
Under-sheriff Raney says inmate medical care cost the county $1.2 million last year. Only $8,000 of that was paid for by the inmates or their families.
"You want to go see the doctor? We'll pay 1.2 million of that bill, but you know what? You need to chip in your five bucks," said Raney.
Raney says all too often, inmates would receive money from family or friends then spend it at the commissary on things they wanted, leaving no money to cover medical care they needed.
As of April 1st, the jail is charging inmates $5 for most doctors’ visits, another $5 for prescriptions. The new policy also requires the first $15 of an inmate’s commissary fund to cover the costs.
"I don't have the money this month to go and put on his books. That $15 they took off, he could've had for this month. I don't have it. I can't afford it," said inmate fiancé Jillian Otero.
Otero tries to deposit money in her fiancé’s commissary fund every month but says she only gives him enough to pay for a phone card, stationary, and soap. She says the new $15 medical deposit means her fiancé will go without.
Otero and other family members of inmates argue they should only be required to pay for care the inmates need and say it's simply unfair to hold money for something they may never use.
“How fair is it if someone only gets $5, they take that away and leave them completely broke?” asked inmate fiancé Rebeckah Basey.
Raney estimates the new plan should recoup about $200,000 in medical expenses at the jail.
Any money not used by the inmates will be given back to them when they leave the jail, but family members say that does them little good.