We have completed an evaluation of health care in Wisconsin's adult prisons, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, the Department of Corrections spent $37.2 million and employed 232.5 full-time equivalent medical professionals and other support staff to provide health care to approximately 14,900 adult inmates.
The Department currently receives as many as 1,000 requests for health services from inmates each working day, approximately 60 percent of which are for prescription refills. Staff also responded to 8,137 emergencies during FY 1999-2000. We found that approximately 5,000 inmates, or one-third of the population suffers from at least one chronic illness, and we conclude that improvements are needed in the management of chronic illnesses, contract oversight, and mental health services.
The Governor's 2001-2003 Biennial Budget Proposal provides an additional $37.6 million in general purpose revenue and an additional 157.5 positions for prison health care, including $17.3 million and 118.0 positions for new institutions and facility expansions. We reviewed this proposal and several alternatives to determine whether costs associated with additional prison health care staff could be offset through management improvements or other changes. We found limited opportunities and significant challenges for reducing health care expenditures as costs for certain medical services and pharmaceuticals, which are not subject to the Department's control, continue to increase.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Corrections management and staff. The Department's response is Appendix 6.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
May 15, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2001 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us/
Bybee, Roger Wisconsin Citizen Action
Dilweg, Sean WEA Insurance Corporation
Essie, Patrick WEA Insurance Corporation
Hermes, Ronald Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Kuehn, Ronald W Wisconsin Coalition for Fair Competition
O'Meara, Jack WEA Insurance Corporation
Osborne, Patrick Joint Water Quality Commision of Danbury & St. Croix Chippewa Indians
of Wisconsin
Schwartzer, Daniel Wisconsin Association of Health Underwriters
Tenuta, James Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Winters, Amy American Crop Protection Association
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
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Relating to volatile organic compound emissions and national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for wood furniture manufacturing.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, May 15, 2001.
Referred to committee on Environmental Resources,
May 16, 2001.
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Senate Enrolled Proposals
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Joint Resolution 2
Report correctly enrolled on May 10, 2001.
Chief Clerk's Report
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Joint Resolution 2
Deposited in the office of the Secretary of State on May 15, 2001.