Expert says Arizona inmates get inadequate health care
A court-appointed expert says understaffing , inadequate funding, and privatization are all hurting the quality of health care in Arizona’s prisons.
Marc Stern released his report Friday as part of a settlement in a lawsuit over the quality of inmate care.
In the 2014 settlement, the state promised to improve health care for inmates, but critics say it has failed to do so.
Stern says the private health care services prisoners currently receive costs more than if the state ran those services itself.
He wants a judge to rescind or override the legislature’s push for privatization.
The Arizona Department of Corrections has yet to comment on Stern’s recommendations.
KYMA 2019