Audit: Weak controls on NC prisoner medical costs

RALEIGH, N.C. — A state audit of North Carolina prisoner medical expenses shows there are inadequate controls to keep spiraling costs in check.

The fiscal control audit released Thursday shows the Department of Correction pays more than private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, with some unidentified hospitals getting paid twice to eight times more than the reimbursement rate for government health insurance for treating prisoners.

Auditor Beth Wood’s office noticed there was a wide range of charged rates for each medical procedure.

The department in a response acknowledged the problem controlling medical costs that exceed more than $100 million annually. It said they got reforms through the Legislature last year, but a bill passed on the session’s final day limited those changes.

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