KCRA 3 examines the high cost of prison health care in California
Gov. Jerry Brown is under pressure to improve conditions
Updated: 11:17 PM PDT May 15, 2013
Mike Luery
KCRA 3
SOURCE: KCRA 3
Gov. Jerry Brown is under pressure to improve prison health care, or federal judges may hold him in contempt of court.But a KCRA 3 investigation reveals California taxpayers already are spending billions of dollars to treat inmates, while millions of Californians have no health care at all.The debate over health care coverage is personal for Stephen Komara, a college student and father of three children who battles anxiety. He's getting help from Wellspace Health in Sacramento, thanks to MediCal. But Komara told KCRA 3 it was easier for him to get treatment when he was behind bars."The sad thing is, incarceration was horrible. But the treatment was better," Komara said. "It's faster. The response time was super quick."California is spending nearly $2 billion a year on salaries and benefits for the providers of prison health care. A KCRA 3 investigation reveals some of the highest-paid state employees are those treating inmates.State records show:-- Charita Dagcuta, a staff psychiatrist at a state hospital in Vacaville, took home $411,562.-- Hamid Sial, a staff psychiatrist at a state hospital in Salinas, collected $436,603 in total pay.-- Mohinder Kaur, a senior psychiatric supervisor at a secure treatment facility in Coalinga, made $445,323.-- Nadim Khoury, a chief deputy of clinical services, was paid $486,690.But the highest paid of all state employees was a senior psychiatric supervisor, Dr. Mohammad Safi. He earned $803,271 in total pay before he was terminated by the state in March.Safi's take-home pay was nearly five times Gov. Brown's salary of $165,288, according to state records.As for prison staffing, KCRA 3 discovered the state has budgeted for:-- 296 psychiatrists-- 874 psychologists-- Nearly 1,200 support staff-- In total, 2,238 positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.But it's still not enough to satisfy federal judges. Brown is being sued by attorneys who say California must provide more resources for inmates who are mentally ill.KCRA 3 asked Brown: "How about the money spent on health care in California prisons – and yet, the courts have ruled that it's inadequate. Does that irk you?"The governor responded, "Look, we're spending more and more money on health care. More than people in free society, and yet, we have unmet needs."Even some prisoner advocates agree, there's something wrong with paying prison doctors up to $800,000 a year."I don't think it can be justified," said Michael Bien, the lead attorney who is suing the state over prison health care. "It's evidence the state is mismanaging the system."He blames the high salaries on a shortage of prison psychiatrists and psychologists."There is a hiring freeze, and they say you have to work overtime," Bien said. "So, these doctors that are getting paid a lot, are getting paid overtime."The Department of State Hospitals denies the existence of a state hiring freeze, but KCRA 3 found several job listings stating a "state hiring freeze restriction" on the Careers in California Government website.In an email response to KCRA 3, the Department of State Hospitals stated, "that line is boilerplate language from a previous job listing and is incorrect. Thank you for pointing it out to us. We will change it."In the meantime, the court battle over prison health care continues. The federal courts are demanding that California reduce the inmate population by nearly 10,000 to ease prison overcrowding and to provide more beds to house the mentally ill behind bars."It's pretty sad that if I went to prison or jail, I would get better treatment," Komara told KCRA 3.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —
Gov. Jerry Brown is under pressure to improve prison health care, or federal judges may hold him in contempt of court.
But a KCRA 3 investigation reveals California taxpayers already are spending billions of dollars to treat inmates, while millions of Californians have no health care at all.
Judges: Brown must fully comply with prison order
The debate over health care coverage is personal for Stephen Komara, a college student and father of three children who battles anxiety. He's getting help from Wellspace Health in Sacramento, thanks to MediCal. But Komara told KCRA 3 it was easier for him to get treatment when he was behind bars.
"The sad thing is, incarceration was horrible. But the treatment was better," Komara said. "It's faster. The response time was super quick."
California is spending nearly $2 billion a year on salaries and benefits for the providers of prison health care. A KCRA 3 investigation reveals some of the highest-paid state employees are those treating inmates.
State records show:
-- Charita Dagcuta, a staff psychiatrist at a state hospital in Vacaville, took home $411,562.
-- Hamid Sial, a staff psychiatrist at a state hospital in Salinas, collected $436,603 in total pay.
-- Mohinder Kaur, a senior psychiatric supervisor at a secure treatment facility in Coalinga, made $445,323.
-- Nadim Khoury, a chief deputy of clinical services, was paid $486,690.
But the highest paid of all state employees was a senior psychiatric supervisor, Dr. Mohammad Safi. He earned $803,271 in total pay before he was terminated by the state in March.
Safi's take-home pay was nearly five times Gov. Brown's salary of $165,288, according to state records.
As for prison staffing, KCRA 3 discovered the state has budgeted for:
-- 296 psychiatrists
-- 874 psychologists
-- Nearly 1,200 support staff
-- In total, 2,238 positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
But it's still not enough to satisfy federal judges. Brown is being sued by attorneys who say California must provide more resources for inmates who are mentally ill.
KCRA 3 asked Brown: "How about the money spent on health care in California prisons – and yet, the courts have ruled that it's inadequate. Does that irk you?"
The governor responded, "Look, we're spending more and more money on health care. More than people in free society, and yet, we have unmet needs."
Even some prisoner advocates agree, there's something wrong with paying prison doctors up to $800,000 a year.
"I don't think it can be justified," said Michael Bien, the lead attorney who is suing the state over prison health care. "It's evidence the state is mismanaging the system."
He blames the high salaries on a shortage of prison psychiatrists and psychologists.
"There is a hiring freeze, and they say you have to work overtime," Bien said. "So, these doctors that are getting paid a lot, are getting paid overtime."
The Department of State Hospitals denies the existence of a state hiring freeze, but KCRA 3 found several job listings stating a "state hiring freeze restriction" on the Careers in California Government website.
In an email response to KCRA 3, the Department of State Hospitals stated, "that line is boilerplate language from a previous job listing and is incorrect. Thank you for pointing it out to us. We will change it."
In the meantime, the court battle over prison health care continues. The federal courts are demanding that California reduce the inmate population by nearly 10,000 to ease prison overcrowding and to provide more beds to house the mentally ill behind bars.
"It's pretty sad that if I went to prison or jail, I would get better treatment," Komara told KCRA 3.