NCJ Number
219176
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2007 Pages: 6-8
Date Published
March 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the introduction of $3 copayments required for inmates to receive medical services in Ohio prisons had caused a change in women inmates' access to health care services in prison.
Abstract
Of the 56 women interviewed for this study, 59.3 percent who were in prison prior to the introduction of the copayment system reported that they were not deterred from accessing health care services after the introduction of copayments. Of the 29 women who said the copayment had not affected their access to health care, 27.6 percent indicated they had other sources of income that buffered the impact of the copayment requirements. Their other sources of income included money saved in an account and money given to them by family and friends. The women noted that the copayment policy led them to seek money from outside sources in order to meet the extra costs required for necessary medical care. The study also determined that women inmates are faced with different and more age-specific health care issues compared with male inmates; however, they are being charged the same copayment as men. It would be helpful to have more information on chronic-care clinics in correctional institutions and on the amount of time and resources given for each of these clinics. The 56 women interviewed for this study included 31 from the Franklin Pre-Release Center and 25 from the Northeast Pre-Release Center. The sample included a wide representation of the use of different medical services. 17 references