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Florida Prison Health Privatization Could Start January 1st
September 8, 2012
After months of legal battles, a state budget panel next week could clear the way for the Department of Corrections to contract with two companies to provide health services in Florida’s prisons.
Next week, the Legislative Budget Commission will consider a department request to transfer money within the budget so the privatization can occur. The department plans to contract with Wexford Health Sources to provide health services at prisons in South Florida and with Corizon to do the work in the rest of the state. Information included in the LBC’s agenda indicates the privatization would take effect January 1.
Lawmakers directed the department last year to privatize inmate health care. But a legal challenge by the Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees tied up the issue.
The challenge centered on a legislative decision to include the change in budget fine print, known as “proviso” language, instead of approving it in a regular bill.
A Leon County circuit judge did not rule on the challenge because the proviso language expired with the June 30 end of the 2011-12 fiscal year. Even without the proviso language, the department argues it can continue with the effort to privatize health services under already-existing state law.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Medical Unit at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEcambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
19 Responses to “Florida Prison Health Privatization Could Start January 1st”
“greedy republicans ”
So funny. As if a diff. exists in the 2 parties.
Do a graph over 50 years or so,under both parties ,increased debt, increased corporate goodies, increased senseless wars to help the Military industrial complex, on and on.
THEY ARE THE SAME> WAKE UP..
Thank u bob at leaat some people in florida understand what Dick Scott oh sorry Trick Scott is trying to to florida employees.
@Russ
I feel for you. The only way to protect the poor humble working class of people that are streached so thin is to get thoes thug republicans out of the control of state and US government with your VOTE against them. Thoes radical republican will steel your money out of your pocket for the big business interest and to cut your healthcare that everyone is entitled by law. They would rather see you die or be in debt to big business than help you. There going to try and make you think you don’t understand the high cost it puts on the country but we do and the only way is to increase taxes on people and businesses that can afford it. If thoes companies want to leave the US because of taxes, they will be new companies to replace them. Today thoes same companies the republicans want to give a tax cut too are setting on hundreds of millions in cash and need people they won’t hire to unemployment up until after the election. Thats holding us hostage to force us to vote for the thugs. All thoes companies there trying to give thoes tax cuts are companies that have outsourced the manufacturing off shore anyway. I feel that I shouldn’t give them a break to stay and i have to pay more taxes to defend there business that’s outsourcing . These new republicans are thugs and con artist. They can’t be trusted.
sorry for the negitive commits but when it effects ur family ot really hurts.
Just sayin,its sad to start working for something u will never git because of people like Scott but u are still obligated to protect and serve.
To who ever, I have been anty employee for nearly 18 years and to tell the truth our so called benefits have fell off too much because of Scott. We pay over 500.00 a month in health care plus dental because of him. We went to school to be LEO’s to protect and serve our county and all he wants to do is take away what we are working towards. Just so u know some of us gave up 6 months of our lives being away from our wives and children to do this job that not everyone wants to make a berter life for ourselves and then Scott is trying to take it all away.
@chris on September 9th, 2012 6:21 am
At what your saying the US has been broke since the great depression. And yes there’s more than 50 million without healthcare insurance or did you know there’s about 314 million in the US and all will need healthcare within there life with or without insurance. I don’t believe the unemployment is 20% unless your listing and doing whatever R/R is doing. I’ll let you guess who they are. It’s Repeal and Relocate offshore is who they are kinda like pink slip Rick and what he’s doing to Florida.
niknak50 on September 9th, 2012 7:07 am
A company is no better than its employees. Good employees these days are hard to find. Because there way behind in education. Without well educated employees in business the business cannot be successful. We in the US do not need business that do not pay a fair share of all government cost (taxes) that would include defense spending. The average tax payer shouldn’t bare the cost of freedom for a business that pays no tax and takes advantage of theme with part time work and no benifits. All your showing is the ignorance of the past. There new rich people made every day and thoes stuck in the GOP past need to change there ways. You blow off at the mouth shows your ignorance. Again outsourcing in Florida is exactly what you voted for with pink slip Rick and Romney/Ryan will do the same. It’s amazing that this country first party was democratic and I guess it took 30 years when the greedy republicans established there party of greed and selfishment thinking the poor should pay there way. Wake up old timer.
citizen
How exactly is “Scott pad his pockets. and make “Millions” ?
Real proof. Not your opinion.
Gigi,
Wrong .
I know govt. employees and they make good salaries ,nearly impossible to get fired ,sick days, personal days, PAID national holidays on and on and even if “State pays about half the salary for the same job that the private sector pays” which it isn’t (please show some proof of this)the benefit of never being fired and benefits out the wang more than make up for it.
I regret never getting on the govt. job gravy train.
Since we are completely broke the gravy train is coming to an end.
Being secure in the knowledge that you’re going to be a one term governor is very liberating. You don’t have to care about appearances at all. I’d really love to have a peek inside that blind trust of his.
Chris, You must understand that the State pays about half the salary for the same job that the private sector pays, even in the same geographic area. The reason people choose to work for the State is for the compensation. Now, the good employees will move on and we’ll have the rest to deal with.
Responding to “Opinion,” I have no problem paying for basic medical services, but they better not be handing out Xanax on my dime.
Re: Bob.
Unless taxes for the “rich” are cut or reduced, the rich are going to disappear from this country if we keep the socialist mindset of the “Bobs”. Don’t talk about the rich
with your mouth full either. Its really about money Bob, you don’t understand how money works. Money builds factories, products, and corporations that provide profits to employ people, even people like you. How many of the bums at intersections in Pensacola employ people? If I invest money in anything, I expect a return on investment after risking those funds, and frankly Bob, this country is about fed up with you and your ignorant mindset. By the way Bob, check out the richest members of both houses of congress and see if by far Democrats outnumber their counterparts. I dare ya………Bob!
b
Kimberly ,
No guarantees.
Did you notice the US is completely BROKE? or that 50 million have no health care?
or the real unemployment is 20 % ?
Real debt of the USA is 200 TRILLION. Prof. L. Kotlikoff
someone wanna explain hy it such a big deal or the prison inmates to have health care ?
Yes they may have doqne bad things but that really doesnt mean we should just let them go without medical treatment,
Just saying
You got exactly what the majority of you voted for. Thats exactly what Romney woul do. Outsource and cut taxes for the rich that’s republican way.
I work for the state an 1 of the reason I took the job was 4 the state benefits. Thanks for messing with my benefits.
That’s why Scott wanted to be Governor, so he could privatize the medical and pad his pockets. “Millions” is probably a conservative number.
Our great Governor Scott is going to make millions in this deal!