"The state taxpayers would be footing the bill for his medical care, and I suspect that it wouldn't be cheap."
The state is under no obligation to provide other than enough care to prevent suffering. No surgeries, IIRC!
That isn't the case in California. There have even been prisoners that have gotten organ transplants. They do get surgeries of all kinds.
There have been complaints and lawsuits against the prison system alleging that the medical care has been substandard, and the federal courts have taken over the medical care system and appointed a receiver. His name is Robert Sillen. This receiver is paid an enormous amount of money, and has enormous power. He has the power to seize funds from the treasury if he sees fit.
That's not to say that I don't believe that this Weller dude doesn't deserve to go to prison. He killed those people while trying to run away from another accident he caused.
In Arizona, I have had the "pleasure" of providing care to a man who raped and murdered a 7 year old in our community because our hospital has the "prison contract". This was for two cataract surgeries and a prostate resection. Why should he be able to see when his victim is dead and her family suffers daily, I don't know.