FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 10, 2024
Time Requested: 03:27 PM |
| Agency: |
Corrections & Rehabilitation, Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2262 |
Introduced |
HB4020 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
|
|---|
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FUND(S):
West Virginia DCR
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Increases Revenue From Existing Sources, Decreases Existing Revenue
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The agency collected $48570.27 in FY23 for copays. We would lose this revenue. Other cost associated my be in the potentially hiring of more staff particularly in the medical department because of inmates using the service. We are unable to predict this with clarity until we have had time to see medical trends within a facility. This is explained in the summary.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
48,600 |
48,600 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The estimate above is actually a total of $48570.27 for FY23. We estimate it would be a similar amount in FY24 and FY25 if our population remains the same. It may be increase at our jails depending on the population trends.
Memorandum
WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation charges adult offenders, when financially able, a medical co-payment for medical services. Co-payments are not designed to dissuade offenders from seeking healthcare for legitimate medical complaints, but rather to instill responsibility among the population. The fees are simply a deterrent to those individuals who would abuse or misuse the healthcare system by presenting with frivolous or unfounded medical complaints.
Industry literature indicates that a well-designed correctional co-payment can significantly reduce the number of health care requests that are initiated for social reasons rather than medical reasons. Co-payments are not intended as much to defray costs, but to maximize the efficiency of valuable medical and security staff by reducing medical program abuse. This allows for an overall increase in the time- and cost-effectiveness of healthcare delivery. No inmate is denied medical care due to his/her lack of funds.
Discontinuing medical co-payments Medical Co-Pays
to offenders could substantially increase our medical appropriation due to the increased medical staff we would require.
Co-payments are not charged for: 1) mental health appointments; 2) follow-up appointments; 3) sexual assault treatment; and 4) pandemic illnesses.
Our dollar amounts represent two things, 1) total amount of co-payments charged to offenders; and 2) total amount of co-payments collected from offenders.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Patrick Mirandy
Email Address: patrick.a.mirandy@wv.gov