|
|
| Michigan cuts inmate hepatitis funds |
| By Lansing State Journal |
| Published: 06/27/2005 |
|
Funding to test and treat Michigan prisoners for hepatitis C has been eliminated in House and Senate spending plans for 2005-06, effectively killing a plan to attack the potentially fatal and communicable disease festering inside the state's 42 prisons. Lawmakers in recent weeks have cut $1.2 million from next year's corrections budget specifically set aside for a new hepatitis C program. Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants to use the money to survey inmates when they arrive at prisons and begin testing those most at risk for harboring the blood-borne virus, as is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That would have meant more prisoners would have been treated, lowering the risk that they would leave prison unaware they carry the virus and infect others. Department officials don't know exactly how many prisoners are infected. A 2003 Lansing State Journal investigative report found that up to 18,000 of Michigan's 48,000 prisoners are believed to harbor the virus. About 55 were being treated. Department officials couldn't say Wednesday how many inmates are being treated now. Prison officials have said it would cost $130 million a year to treat every infected inmate. The cut also leaves correctional officers at risk, said Mel Grieshaber, executive director of the Michigan Corrections Organization, which represents prison guards. "Hepatitis C is such a tremendous problem in our prisons," Grieshaber said. "We can't ignore it and keep people safe." The House and Senate spending plans will go to a conference committee to hammer out Department officials had planned to implement a program in March to survey all new inmates in hopes of finding those most at-risk for the virus. Those prisoners then would have been tested, and anyone positive would have been monitored or treated, depending on the severity of their disease. But Marlan said officials canceled that plan when they were told in early spring that funding would not be restored this year. The $1.2 million remaining in the current budget now will be used to cover hepatitis C treatments in the past year, Marlan said. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think