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| Audit: U.S. Inmates Get Poor Health Care |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 02/24/2004 |
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The U.S. Marshals Service does a poor job of providing medical services to thousands of federal prisoners and doesn't adequately track those with contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, according to a Justice Department audit. In addition, the marshals significantly overpay for outside medical care, according to the report Monday by Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. The Marshals Service has custody of about 40,000 prisoners awaiting trial on federal charges, sometimes for days, weeks or even years. That number represents an increase of 53 percent compared with five years ago, agency chief Benigno Reyna said in a letter to Fine. Reyna agreed that prisoner health care should be better but said "increases in workload make this problematic" unless Congress approves requested staff increases. He added that the marshals have implemented programs that have saved more than $109 million over the last nine years. Federal prisoners are provided health care at a local jail, federal prison or detention center, or at an outside medical facility for more serious illnesses. In fiscal year 2002, the marshals spent about $43 million for outside medical care. The audit found that because the marshals do not always obtain the lowest rates allowed under federal law, the agency is spending about $7 million more than necessary, or roughly one-sixth of all the money spent on outside care. Reyna said the agency was developing a national managed care plan that would resolve many of the financial issues raised by the audit. |
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