The Health Services director for the Vermont Corrections Department says there were some problems during the early years of a health care contract for prison inmates, but those have since been overcome.
Dr. Delores Burroughs-Biron made the comments after Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a report Monday that found spending on health care for in-state prisoners was $4 million over budget for the past three years.
The Department of Corrections contracts with Correct Care solutions to operate a health care program for in-state inmates.
The audit says in fiscal year 2012, the department housed an average daily population of nearly 1,600 in-state inmates. The state budgeted $49 million for the three-year contract but eventually paid $53 million, including a $4.7 million management fee.
