TRUMBULL JAIL Drug costs for inmates soar

The county paid $3,600 for prescriptions for jail inmates in 1999, but more than $56,000 in 2001.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The county has been paying an increasing amount in prescription drugs for jail inmates without seeking competitive bids.
At the same time, the jail population has decreased.
Sheriff Thomas Altiere and two county commissioners said they did not seek competitive bids for the prescription drugs because they did not believe the bill would be so high.
Altiere said he asked commissioners in May 2000 not to put the drugs out for bid because he did not think there would be a need.
"In 1999, it was so low so I didn't think we needed it," Altiere said. Jail records indicate the county paid $3,561 in prescription drugs in 1999.
The county, however, paid $25,000 in 2000 for prescription drugs, said Ernie Cook, chief of operations for the jail. Cook said the bill for prescriptions so far this year has reached $56,000.
Rejected bid: During a May 4, 2000, meeting, commissioners rejected a bid by Institutional Prescription Services Inc., 1400 Tod Avenue, Warren, as the provider of drugs. Institutional Prescription was the only company to submit a bid.
Commissioners said they took the action based on a recommendation by Altiere, who said he didn't think it was necessary to bid.
According to state law, items over $15,000 require bidding.
Neither Altiere nor the commissioners could explain why they didn't seek bids for 2001.
"It just skyrocketed in 2000 and 2001," Cook said.
According to the county auditor's office, the jail bought the prescription drugs mainly from Secure Rx Pharmacy, Franklin, Tenn., and Institutional Prescription.
"We will put it up for bid now," Altiere said.
The sheriff said he believes something has to be done to lower the cost.
Possible reason: Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien, Altiere and Cook said they believe one reason the cost has dramatically increased this year is because of the defeat of a levy to support the Trumbull County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board. The agency was forced to decrease its budget and couldn't provide the same service, they added.
O'Brien said the agency would cover the cost of drugs used to treat mental conditions.
"We noticed a dramatic increase when that happened," Cook asserted.
He noted prisoners made $20,000 in co-payments for their prescriptions in 2000. Cook and the sheriff, however, noted that they aren't sure of the amount because the person who handles that account is on vacation.
Fewer prisoners: Even though the prescription rates have increased, the number of inmates has decreased. Cook's own figures show that in 1999, 6,469 prisoners were booked into the jail and 5,797 in 2000. Cook did not have figures available for this year.
One reason for the decrease, Cook explained, is police officers have been encouraged to issue summons to appear in court for minor misdemeanor charges rather than bringing suspects to the jail before booking.
Mahoning: At the Mahoning County Jail, the county pays much more for prescriptions.
Bob Knight, jail health administrator, said the medical provider, Prison Health Services Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., paid $80,270 in 1999, $95,201 in 2000 and $102,560 through October of this year.
Mahoning County has no inmate co-payment and 50 percent to 60 percent of them require prescriptions for various ailments.
Mahoning County's jail population is higher, averaging 324 prisoners per day in 1999; 434 in 2000; and 488 in 2001; according to Alki Santamas, jail administrator. Cook said the Trumbull lockup averages about 285 prisoners daily.
sinkovich@vindy.com yovich@vindy.com