Posted on 02/01/2009 2:06:02 PM PST by SmithL
Of course, California prison inmates are entitled to reasonable 21st century health care. Unfortunately for taxpayers, Clark Kelso, the federal receiver in charge of California prison health care, has, as state Attorney General Jerry Brown noted at a news conference last week, a "gold-plated wish list" for California's prison health care system.
His Receivership wants to spend $8 billion to build seven hospitals, each the size of 10 Wal-Marts, which would create "a holistic environment," with "music therapy, art therapy and other recreation therapy functions," a music room, stress reduction room, game room and "therapy kitchen," with lots of natural light and high ceilings. A gymnasium would feature a "full-size high school playing court with basketball hoops and built-in edge seating up to four rows deep. Various floor striping allows for other games, such as volleyball, etc. Other sport activities include handball courts, exercise, and workout room."
"The overarching value" of Plan Kelso is to create "a health care facility that cares for prisoners as patients and not a prison that cares for health care needs as inmates." No surprise: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation estimates the annual cost of operating these facilities to be $170,000 to $230,000 per inmate.
The amazing part: California politicians were going along with the plan until Wednesday, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brown filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Thelton E. Henderson to replace Kelso with a special master.
Like hell, His Receivership's plans were paved with good intentions. Henderson, who took up the case in 2005, wrote the California prison medical care system was so broken...
healthcare spending per inmate rose from $7,601 per inmate in 2005-2006 to $13,778 per inmate in 2007-2008 - an 81 percent increase, and far above the average $4,600 spent on health care per Californian.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Hmmm, get sick , no insuranse, go smoke a joint in the cop shop and get free medical care.
Why not, so far there doesn’t seem to be a limit to federal spending right now. In fact, I am contacting my conresscritter to see what “grants” I may be able to get. Dead serious. A few million could make my day.
our prisoners ought to get the same level of care as if they were on the “outside” on medical or medicaid! it should be no better or worse.
Sheriff Joe should appoint the arbitrator
Just change your name to "CodeACORN".
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