One inmate’s medical bill took out the entire year’s budget for Inmate Medical Services.
Flagler County Financial Services asked for $400,000 to replenish their budget for the fiscal year after the cost of one inmate wiped out their initial budget.
The Inmate Medical Services budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year is $230,000, and most years, that is more than enough. But recently, Inmate Medical Services received a bill for one inmate that wiped out their budget: a total of $235,272.
Financial Services Director John Brower said that normally their largest bills are between $15,000 and $30,000. Because they’ve already received bill for several smaller medical bills, the $400,000 from the general reserve fund will pay the remainder of the large bill as well as give them funding for the rest of the year, Brower told the board.
“We’re hoping this is a one-off,” Brower said.
Brower said there is no way to tell specifically because of HIPAA laws, but the one inmate’s bill is likely a combination of inflation and medical services received. It was unexpected, he said.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the request on Monday Dec. 5. They’re required to do so, Commissioner Donald O’Brien said.
“We have a constitutional responsibility,” O’Brien said. “We have to take care of someone in our care.”
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