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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- A consultant who was hired to evaluate Utah's prison health care system has ties to a company that would profit if the state decides to privatize health care for inmates.
Jacqueline Moore is the consultant studying whether Utah could save money with privatized prison health care. Moore also has acknowledged she has ties to the company Correctional Medical Services -- the same company that has promised to save the state millions of dollars if it takes over inmate care.
Corrections officials say they aren't opposed to an evaluation of prison health care. They point out that the prison's own health care system has been able to cut costs and streamline its operations -- without sacrificing quality care.
Scott Carver is deputy director for Corrections. He says he hopes they're treated fairly in the study. He says he's confident the study will show the prison already offers good care and costs.
The state's own evaluation has shown that privatizing prison health care might NOT offer as much cost savings as originally expected.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
