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TDOC presents rising inmate health costs as committee approves corrections contract
Summary
Officials told the Fiscal Review committee that Tennessee’s prison population requires growing medical and behavioral health services, citing pharmacy and chronic-care cost increases and hepatitis C prevalence; the committee approved the related corrections contract after questions about aging inmates and federal benefits.
The Fiscal Review committee heard a presentation from the Tennessee Department of Correction on the scope and cost of inmate health care and then approved the department’s corrections contract.
Elizabeth Foy, chief of staff for the Tennessee Department of Correction, said the department “has just over 20,000 individuals in our custody” and outlined the statutory responsibility to provide medical, mental health, dental and vision services to those individuals. Assistant Commissioner Jillian Bresnahan described utilization and cost trends, saying, “We've seen an increase in pharmacy utilization of 5.4 percent since last, since 2023,” and that pharmacy spend increases have been “up to 33.2%.” She also said nearly 16 percent of inmates are infected or reinfected with hepatitis C and that treatment typically averages about 12 weeks and “can cost between $16,000 and $52,000.”
Committee members pressed for additional detail on future cost drivers. A member asked how the department is preparing for an aging incarcerated population and potential longer sentences; Foy and Bresnahan said the department uses early diagnosis, annual reviews and expanded telehealth and on-site specialty care to manage long-term needs. The chair requested follow-up data comparing Tennessee’s per-inmate costs to national averages; the department agreed to provide that information.
After discussion, the committee moved to approve the corrections contract (item 1). The motion carried with the committee recording the usual voice vote, “ayes have it.” The committee did not amend the contract during the meeting.
What’s next: the department will provide the requested comparative cost data to the chair, and the committee will retain oversight of contract performance and future amendments.
