
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 16, 1994                   TAG: 9412160059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ARLINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

INMATES MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR OWN MEDICAL CARE

Three Northern Virginia jails are joining a national movement to make inmates help pay for their own health care.

Inmates in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties soon will pay fees of $3 to $20 for some medical visits. Jails throughout the country have begun charging fees as a way to discourage inmates from making needless medical visits.

``Inmates will be held responsible and accountable, and medical staff can devote quality time to those with more legitimate problems,'' said Arlington County Sheriff Thomas Faust.

Arlington will begin charging fees in January. Officials at jails in Fairfax County and Prince William County said they also plan to institute fees early next year.

Medical costs have soared at jails and prisons nationally, according to corrections specialists. Because Medicaid does not cover inmates, that cost is borne totally by taxpayers.

Virginia enacted a law last year that enables jails to charge inmates for medical visits.

Beth Arthur, director of administration for the Arlington jail, said medical care will not be refused to patients who can't pay.

Arthur said the jail, which had 558 inmates Wednesday, expects to spend $1.7 million this year on medical costs, 11.8 percent of the jail's $14.3 million budget.

by CNB