By Ryan Lengerich
Rapid City Journal
Pennington County will spend about 25 percent more than budgeted for inmate medical services this year, and officials are pointing to more inmates, Indian Health Service and some costly cases as the reasons.
Pennington County Health and Human Services Director Karen Romey recently asked county commissioners to approve an additional $120,000 to cover a budget shortfall for medical services to inmates. That’s a 26 percent increase from the $454,350 that had been set aside this year.
When a person is arrested, Pennington County is responsible for any medical bills, including treatments at the hospital. Romey said the jail will look for alternative means to cover costs, such as an inmate’s personal insurance, but if no other means can be found it falls on the county to pay the bills.
Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom said there are about 20 to 30 more inmates in the jail per day than last year, which is one factor that is driving up medical costs. The jail has about 500 inmates on any given day.
Full story: Jail inmate health costs over budget