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Inmate, most of health costs switch to state |
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Scott Dunning, who had surgery here Wednesday, is now in state custody. McCracken still will pay some of his costs. |
Inmate, most of health costs switch to state
Scott Dunning, who had surgery here Wednesday, is now in state custody. McCracken still will pay some of his costs.
By Bill Bartleman bbartleman@paducahsun.com--270.575.8651
Thursday, May 12, 2005
McCracken County Jail inmate Scott Dunning was transferred to state custody Wednesday and underwent leg surgery at Lourdes hospital here.
Jail officials had planned to move Dunning to the state Department of Corrections prison at La Grange and make arrangements for the surgery at a hospital in Louisville. But after reviewing Dunning's medical records, state corrections officials decided Wednesday morning to leave Dunning here for the surgery rather than delay it while he was moved.
Transferring Dunning to state custody qualified him to participate in CorrectCare, a health care network administered by the University of Kentucky. It is similar to health care networks used by private insurance companies in which medical services are provided at a reduced rate.
McCracken County taxpayers will still pay for the surgery and other medical costs, but will save 40 to 45 percent compared with if the care had been provided outside the CorrectCare network, according to McCracken Deputy Jailer Bill Adams. Without the discount, Dunning's medical bill might have exceeded $100,000, according to Judge-Executive Danny Orazine.
Adams said Dunning will be transferred to the state corrections hospital at La Grange for recovery, also reducing the county's medical outlay. The state further agreed not to charge McCracken County its normal $70 daily fee for housing a county prisoner.
"What we are doing will have the same effect as if he was moved to La Grange for the surgery," Adams said. "It just allows him to have the surgery sooner."
Dunning was injured in a car crash Jan. 22 after a police chase in connection with the robbery of the Five Star Food Mart at 1461 Lone Oak Road. Dunning was charged with robbery and attempted murder for allegedly trying to run over a Kentucky State Police trooper.
He was a Lourdes patient from Jan. 22 until being released and lodged in the jail on April 20. When he was returned to the hospital Monday for removal of a leg cast, doctors discovered complications that required additional surgery.