California State Republican Lawmakers Powerless Against Government Demand to Completely Overhaul Its Prison System’s Healthcare Quality

A single room for the healthcare of an institution’s entire patient population. The relative squalor of certain facilities that threatens the spread of disease to staff and other patients on an almost daily basis. Treatment conditions which one judicial official characterized as one of “incompetence and outright depravity in the rendering of medical care.”

Are these citations from healthcare facilities in some underdeveloped nations? Think again.

The California state prison system is apparently notorious for the substandard and despicable care environments it houses. The problem is so pervasive, the feds became involved and ordered sweeping reforms in how prison medical care is delivered in that state. In fact, the fiscal tug of war between California and the apparent unconstitutionality of its prison system’s healthcare delivery has led to a court order compelling the state to start financing improvements. With a significant budget deficit, the last thing Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to hear is that the bill for this overhaul amounts to $8 billion. | LINK