Posted on Wed, Jan. 18, 2006 Lexington Herald Leader

Change saves state $9 million on medical care for prisoners

The state has saved more than $9 million through changes to medical care for prison inmates by working with the University of Kentucky and a private health-management firm, officials announced today.

"We have successfully managed to increase efficiency in medical care for prisoners while concurrently lessening the burden on taxpayers," Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said in a prepared statement. Pence is also secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

UK, the state and Lexington-based CorrectCare established a statewide network to provide hospital and medical care to more than 18,000 inmates. Previously, the state decided individually how to provide health care at 13 prisons and 75 jails.

The effort recently launched a wireless electronic medical records system through which workers can obtain inmates' health records and document notes, prescriptions and other orders on a tablet computer. Workers can consult electronically. The system is in place at four prisons; the entire prison system is expected to have the wireless network by April 1.

The wireless system is expected to save more than $350,000 a year and reduce the number of times inmates are taken out of prisons to visit doctors.