57°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

$2.2 million OK’d for unanticipated Nevada prison medical claims

CARSON CITY — State lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a nearly $2.2 million request from the Department of Corrections to cover un­anticipated inmate medical claims for the current fiscal year.

The request to dip into a state contingency fund was approved by the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee after a brief discussion.

Lawmakers were told that 13 catastrophic medical cases that have occurred so far this fiscal year, defined as costing more than $100,000 each, are a contributing factor in the request. The cases have cost about $2.4 million with nearly three months remaining in the 2014 fiscal year that ends June 30.

The 2013 Legislature approved just under $43 million in state funds for inmate care in the current year and $41 million in the second year of the budget.

Of this total, outside medical costs, such as prescription drugs and hospitalization, were projected to cost $18 million this year and $18.8 million in fiscal year 2015.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Follow him on Twitter @seanw801.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Alabama man killed in Nye County crash

The Southern Command of the Nevada Highway Patrol has investigated 18 fatal crashes resulting in 22 fatalities this year.

Nevadans support diaper tax exemption, state lottery

A public opinion poll on how Nevadans are feeling about several ballot questions found majority support a tax exemption for diapers, open primaries and ranked choice voting, and enshrining abortion rights into the constitution.

Aging Hoover Dam may get $45M for maintenance

It will take tens of millions of dollars to repair and improve the dam over the next 10 years, officials estimate.

 
Nevada terminates grants to immunization nonprofit

A nonprofit will have grants terminated after state officials say it failed to pay over $400,000 to vendors despite the state reimbursing it for those payments.