Some Inmates Forego Health Care to Avoid Higher Fees
Before a recent hearing, attorney Michelle Smith learned that her client, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate, would not be arriving at the courtroom.
Smith, who works on prisoners' rights with the Texas Civil Rights Project, later received word that the inmate, instead of attending his hearing, was lying in an emergency room. He had become sick, but decided not to see a doctor, because it would have cost him $100. In the past it had only cost $3, and he decided the higher price wasn’t worth his commissary money.
“He thought he just had the flu and ...
Comments (9)
Phil Hilliard
This $100 fee system is unjust. As a long time volunteer in Texas prisons I have seen the already inept and inadequate medical care our offenders receive. Sadly, no one else knows about this because offenders have no real voice in our society. But now our "no new taxes" mantra has descended on the poorest of the poor and forced offenders and their families to either pay $100 or forgo medical care. I know there are provisions for the indigent, but for the majority, it falls on families who send modest amounts of money for toothpast, deodrant, etc. if and when they can. The great majority of these folks are poor. And, yet, half of what they send is taken, against their will, as a tax against the $100 they supposedly owe (but didn't have a chance to vote on). This surely is wrong. Texas, if it incarcerates these men and women, surely can treat them better than animals. Surely we can give them the medical care they don't have the opportunity to earn.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The ultimate entitlement society.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The GOP gag at a gnat and swallow a fly. As usual.
Bryan N Patti Suhre via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And it won't....They aren't going to put layins to go to medical. The medical was horrible before, now it is even worse, so why put in to see a Dr. knowing full well you don't EVER see a Dr. and get charged $100 and you don't get any treatment... They treat the majority of symptoms in TDC with ibuprofen.. That is available at commissary and there is no $100 fee to go buy that..
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You have just proved the point to all the liberals that want to raise taxes. Never in the history of taxation has the "projected" revenue ever panned out. Best way to raise income is cut taxes, get the government out of our business and get out of the way.
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@lori - what entitlement...you must also believe that everyone who goes to an ER is also free. This was a GOP game to try and plug a hole in the budget that they created. aka: FEES aren't TAXES - to which most say BS. It's not that hard to connect dots - want me to send you a pencil????
Samdavis
Entitlement BS Lori, Texas has one of the worst prison systems in the country. Couple that with a terrible justice system and you create an inhumane institution. Saying that healthcare in prison is an entitlement is not uninformed, it's just plain stupid. When we mistreat inmates the recitivism rate goes up which ends up costing society more in the long run. You TEA Baggers can't seem to get that point through your thick heads, sometimes it's cheaper to spend money to save money. I sure hope you don't take care of yourselves like you want to take care of society.
R. Castro
A moment of silence for the man who died of pneumonia because he thought he would have to pay $100 for health care or receive none.
Not everyone understands the new health care rule.
It is causing unsafe health conditions as many forgo medical treatment or wait until its "worth" going for.
Annette Bryant
I wonder why Texas Prisons death if higher last year than it has been in the past 3 previous years. They cannot afford $100 copay and the familys have to pay the fee. We send money so they can have toothpaste or peanut butter for a meal when the prisons serve food that is so bad that inmates cannot stand the smell to go to chow. There is so much fat is the "dog vomit" that it is causing the inmates to die of clogged vessels causing heart attacks. The "Ombudsman" brags of the forced air in the Texas prisons which is hot air from the outside, day and night. There is so much tooth decay which is because the inmate get only one piece of fresh fruit at Christmas and one on Thanksgiving. The office of the Ombudsman statews the food is served in accordance with the food pyramid which allows for 2 to 3 pieces of fruit a day!