curiosity
Having been at the prison almost a year now, I have a better idea of how much effort and time is devoted towards prison healthcare….at least at our prison.
It’s a lot.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan fiscal and policy advocate for California, here are the average medical costs per incarcerated individual for 2021-2022:
Inmate Health Care $33,453
Medical care 23,290
Psychiatric services 5,341
Pharmaceuticals 3,156
Dental care 1,666
Considering the costs for two under an Affordable Care Act plan is roughly $6600/year (estimate for a mid range Kaiser insurance plan for healthy individuals without added visit costs), the above numbers indicate a hefty price to pay per incarcerated individual. And this is just for healthcare.
I have no idea if this cost takes into account salaries for medical staff. I would imagine it would have to factor that in. And then some patients take more load on the system, as on the outside. Some incarcerated individuals are on 3x/week dialysis. Others have multiple surgeries. There is testing and treatment for cancer. And ongoing care for an aging population and preventative care of vaccines and HIV treatment.
My curiosity lies in the environment and dietary contributions to health (or illness) within prison walls.
I know many on the outside would say, let them suffer as they’ve committed some act which lead to incarceration.
But if we continue to allow suffering on the inside, my assumption is that the cost of healthcare goes up. And in the end, taxpayers end up paying more for the health challenges that arise.
Many of my patients are interested in being healthy. They ask about the right foods and supplements they could be taking to take care of themselves.
I grapple with this idea. What if we spent a little more up front in healthier food choices, clean air and less stressful environments in prison? Would our prison population be less ill?
We’re stuck with a food budget that the lead kitchen staff has to work with to feed 4700+ people. And thus, the healthiest, freshest options are not going to make the cut over cheaper, easier to store and cook and more processed foods.
And the internal grappling continues….many are food insecure on the outside and have very few resources. And thus it seems unjust to feed those who have been sentenced to prison, the best options, right?
I also know that with healthier food, exercise, stress management, our moods improve and mental health issues can be better managed. And then this would cut down on mental health costs and medications.
I don’t know what the right answer is. It’s something I think about a lot within each week. Maybe there’s an in-between. Perhaps with the new “rehabilitation” goals of the prison via our governor, changes will come, as they take guidance from the Norwegian model.
Curious what your thoughts are…..
*just to note, I’ll be leaving out the name of the institution that I work at. It’s a state prison for reference. Images are not from the prison as no devices are allowed in.
Prison PT 
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