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| Women's Prison Gets Healthy |
| By The Star-Tribune |
| Published: 01/23/2006 |
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Take away the macaroni and bring on the veggies. Switching from a traditional high-starch prison diet to a healthy menu of fresh fruit, vegetables and low-fat meats isn't cheap. The Wyoming Department of Corrections (DOC) is asking for a five percent increase in the Wyoming Women's Center's food budget to pay for the healthier diet, on top of five percent to cover rising costs. The diet shift will be tied to a fitness program for the women in anticipation of rising health-care costs. Because of the 10 percent increase in food costs, the DOC is asking for $318,206 more for the 2007-2008 biennium to feed the 125 women inmates. The state is expanding the Lusk prison at a cost of $18 million to accommodate a total of 286 women. Health-care costs were clearly on the minds of the members of the Joint Appropriations Committee Monday when they reviewed the DOC's total budget request of $228.7 million for the biennium. The budget includes health-care cost increases of 13 percent in fiscal year 2007 and 9.5 percent in fiscal year 2008 for medical services, and 7.8 percent in 2007 and 9.6 percent in 2008 for mental health services. Both services are provided by a private contractor, Prison Health Services. The DOC is asking for an additional $3.3 million to cover the cost of health care of about 600 returning inmates who have been housed in prisons in other states. Currently 1,370 inmates are housed in Wyoming. In answer to questions about prison health care costs, Director Bob Lampert said Wyoming's daily cost per inmate is competitive with surrounding states. Sen. Jim Anderson, R-Glenrock, said he and other committee members receive letters from inmates complaining they that don't receive the proper medicines or the medicines are not dispensed on time. Lampert said the department relies on the grievance system to learn of these problems. Sometimes, he said, an inmate will not receive the same medication he received on the outside and that he prefers. DOC Deputy Director Steve Lindley said the medication system is monitored and monthly review reports are submitted. |
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