A quick search found this document from California in 2006
https://sco.ca.gov/Files-AUD/specrep...thcare_rpt.pdf
Lots of money being spent
The costs are likely dramatically higher now
All states will have similar prison healthcare issues.
A few excerpts
At least two of the four prison acute-care hospitals are functioning at a fraction of their capacity,
resulting in increased costs of contracted services and the need for outside hospital services
--
For example, in a prior audit, the Bureau of State Audits (BSA) found that
CDCR was paying a hospital 4.16 times what Medicare would pay for the same inpatient care.
However, under the old contract, the department on average paid the hospital $2,789
per day. Under the new contract, the CDCR is paying an average of $3,994 per day, or 43.2% more
--
For example, the CDCR paid a hospital $12,379.50 (billed charges totaling $40,255 @ 30%)
for drugs provided to an inmate with cancer. The SCO’s analysis of the Medi-Cal Program
formulary files found that Medi-Cal would pay only $300 to $400 for the same drugs.
--
The CDCR currently has about 150 inmates who need dialysis treatment.
Most of these inmates are transported outside the institutions three times a week for dialysis treatment.
Each treatment costs, on average, more than $400 plus the costs for inmate transportation and
custody while outside of the prisons.
150 * 400 * 3 * 52 = ~$9M + other fuzzy costs
