State revenues far outweigh inmate medical costs at county jail

This is a release from Campbell County Director of Finance Jeff Marlow concerning operational costs surrounding the Campbell County Jail.  The bottom line is that the anticipated amount of annual state prisoner board revenue for the fiscal year 2017-2018 surpasses the anticipated inmate medical costs by more than $660,000.

As we are nearing the end of the 2017-2018 fiscal year, I wanted to provide you with an update of the anticipated state prisoner board revenue to be realized for the year ending June 30, 2018, in comparison to the anticipated inmate medical cost to be realized for the year ending June 30, 2018.  Additionally, with the jail expansion becoming operational at the end of the 2014-2015 fiscal year, I extended the comparative analysis to encompass the last four (4) fiscal year periods, see first attachment.

In summary, the expanded availability of jail space has resulted in an increase in the number of annual inmate days of 126.71% over the last three (3) years with annual inmate days amounting to 20,098 for the year ending June 30, 2015, and such days anticipated to amount to 45,564 for the year ending June 30, 2018.  During this same three (3) year period, annual state prisoner board revenue has increased 138.96% with such revenue amounting to $743,626 for the year ending June 30, 2015, and same anticipated to amount to $1,776,996 for the year ending June 30, 2018.  Additionally, during this three (3) year period, annual inmate medical costs increased 92.31% with such inmate medical costs amounting to $579,409 for the year ending June 30, 2015, and inmate medical costs anticipated to amount to $1,114,266 for the year ending June 30, 2018.

The increase in the number of annual inmate days of 126.71%, which results in an increase in state prisoner board revenue of 138.96%, and which results in an increase in inmate medical costs of 92.31% is indicative of everyone’s best efforts to control and minimize inmate medical costs.  In this regard, the county has obtained a 65% discount for the cost of medical services provided to inmates treated at La Follette Hospital and has entered into an in-jail managed care contract for inmates housed in the jail to lessen the need for such inmates to receive medical care from outside providers.  Both of these initiatives serve to control and lessen inmate medical costs, and through your (Sheriff Robbie Goins) efforts working with the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association and the efforts of the County Commission working with the Tennessee County Commissioners Association, it is hoped the State General Assembly will soon consider establishing TennCare Reimbursement Rates as the maximum allowable charge for medical services provided to inmates housed in county jails and/or state prisons, see resolution passed by the County Commission on January 19, 2018.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sheriff Robbie Goins, his staff and the County Commission for the efforts put forth to maximize state prisoner board revenue for the housing of state prisoners and to control inmate medical costs.  The attached comparative analysis reflects the success of such efforts to date, and hopefully the State General Assembly will help us to further improve by considering the request to establish TennCare Reimbursement Rates as the maximum allowable charge for medical services provided to inmates housed in county jails and/or state prisons. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/04/2018-6AM)