Lawmakers Call for Improved Oversight of State Prison Health Care System

Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough), who is "leading the charge to reform California's troubled corrections system," is pushing the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to release publicly a "blistering" report on health services at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The inspector general's report, issued more than one year ago, suggests that three inmate deaths in the previous two years could be attributed in part to inadequate medical treatment. The report also found lax oversight in areas such as prescription drug administration, which has "led to the wasting of millions of taxpayer dollars," the Chronicle reports. In addition, full-time doctors who received more than $90,000 in wages per year were available to inmates only 12 hours per week, and full-time dentists spent most of their time at private practices, investigators found. Officials in the state Department of Corrections said they have a "comprehensive plan to address each issue raised by the inspector general's report" and are reviewing progress monthly, according to the Chronicle. Improvements include the establishment of working hours for medical personnel and improved tracking systems for prescription drugs. However, Speier said that the recent death of an inmate at Corcoran who had not eaten in 40 days "may show yet another example of problems within corrections that never seem to be fixed," the Chronicle reports. She is asking the Schwarzenegger administration to release the inspector general's report. In addition, she and Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) are crafting legislation that would add funding to the inspector general's office and require that most of the office's reports be released to the public. "I'm becoming concerned that the administration is either dragging its feet or covering something up," Speier said. Terri Carbaugh, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, said that the report will likely be released soon. Carbaugh said Schwarzenegger supports "beefing up" the inspector general's office, as well as more public disclosure, according to the Chronicle (Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/26).