States Efforts To Outsource Prison Health Care Come Under Scrutiny

The cost cutting measures have raised concerns among state unions and prisoners’ rights groups. About 20 states, including Arizona, Illinois and Maryland, have shifted all or portions of their prison health care operations to private firms. Officials in these states maintain that the companies, which provide physical, dental, mental and pharmaceutical services, are less expensive than employing state workers — partially because using the companies saves benefits and pension costs.