An effort by the state to privatize Florida’s inmate health care services could still be on hold, even after a Leon Circuit Judge recently rejected a motion to reconsider a case that could have blocked the effort.
In early July, Leon Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll had previously dismissed the case because the budget provision that let the state privatize inmate health care services had already expired.
But, about a month later, the two employee unions who had filed the initial suit asked Carroll to reconsider the case. The two groups are the Florida Nurses Association and AFSCME, or the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
The unions contend the Florida Department of Corrections was still pursing private vendor contracts for prison inmate health care services under the expired budget provision. But, the state claims it has the authority to privatize prison health care services, even without a provision written into the budget.
Now, Judge Carroll has denied the motion to re-hear the challenge, ruling in favor of the state. But, he says both unions can still come back with a new request. And, AFSCME Spokesman Doug Martin says his union is looking at all their options:
“Our attorneys are evaluating the judge’s decision and looking at our next step in this legal action and have not decided on the best course of action yet," said Martin. "But, we will let the public know once our attorneys have decided on a course of action.”
Martin says close to 3,000 employees’ jobs are in jeopardy, if the department is allowed to privatize the state’s inmate prison health care services. He adds the effort, in general, is just a bad deal for everyone involved.
“It’s not just going to affect employees, but it’s also a bad deal for taxpayers and in the past, when we have attempted to privatize parts of the inmate health system, it’s led to inmate deaths," said Martin. "So, very bad outcomes!”
So far, the department has awarded contracts to private bidder, Corizon Incorporated for inmate health services in Northwest and Central Florida, and another private vendor, Wexford Health Sources will serve institutions in South Florida. However, a department spokeswoman says that process has been paused again because of a bid protest from a private vendor.
