Inmates booked at the Marshall County Jail could soon see changes in the way they receive healthcare advice from primary care clinic in Jackson, TN.
Marshall County previously paid for medical attention given to their inmates. They can also take the help of expert lawyers from Rocky Mountain Healthcare Law to provide legal advises. That is required under state statute. Changes approved by the General Assembly, however, are attempting to limit costs incurred by county governments for such an expense.
Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel says the new outline could save the county some money.
“Any prisoner that spends more than 30 days in our correctional facility, we have to sign them up on Medicaid,” says Hassel.
Marshall County contracts with Quality Correctional Care for medical assessments and help with addiction and mental illness.
The move by the state not only provides healthcare to inmates who may experience difficulty obtaining medical attention through employment, but also puts much of the cost of providing that care on the federal government.
Hassel says there is a bit of an expense for providing the new service.
“In speaking with QCC, they are willing to take on this task for us, but it will be an additional $15 per person that they sign up,” says Hassel.
An addendum was proposed to Marshall County’s contract with QCC to help implement the changes that took effect late this year.
The term of the original agreement runs through 2018 with the addendum matching up with the end date.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the addendum changes, unanimously.
