A Texas County Memorial Hospital board directive on inmate care has sparked correspondence between attorneys for the institution and county government.
The hospital said it heard from a St. Louis attorney representing Texas County government and it responded on Friday to the inquiry.
The TCMH board of trustees voted unanimously March 27 to extend care only to those at the Texas County Jail who have emergent care needs and it would no longer provide routine outpatient care. Medical costs to the county traditionally have been handled at a discounted fee. The decision came after bills totaling more than $200,000 have piled up, and county government says it is only being respectful of taxpayers’ money and it should not be obligated for any patient bills. (See related story)
The TCMH decree also extends to blood draws requested by county authorities as part of DUI and DWI investigations. That procedure is conducted by law enforcement when a suspect refuses to take a breathalyzer test. No other law enforcement agency is affected by the mandate. The hospital said its wholeheartedly appreciates the role of law enforcement and the great assistance it receives from officers.
First raised last fall, the medical question has lingered with no resolution so the hospital invited county officials to its March meeting. Only County Clerk Laura Crowley attended.
“I’m not creating this situation, but I’m having to deal with it. And it’s unnecessary,” said TCMH CEO Wes Murray.
The county commission said it first learned last July about the medical bills sent to the sheriff’s department after a collection agency notified the county’s administrative billing office.
The hospital says it felt compelled to publicly raise the safety issue after becoming increasingly alarmed about the safety of its staff and the public by accused criminals wandering on its U.S. 63 campus. At its board meeting, the hospital expressed distress at what it said were inmates released from custody on its parking lot to seek medical attention only to walk away, and others who did receive treatment after release from custody, but later decided they’d exit because they had no obligation to return.
In one case, an ICU patient left the hospital dressed in an orange jumpsuit and wandered into the nearby Lillyview Addition and sparked alarm calls to 911, the hospital says.
Commissioners voiced concern last fall in a column after the issue spilled out into the public, adding they didn’t want it tried in newspapers serving the county. Since that time, CEO Murray said the issue has elevated to the point it needs open discussion by the hospital board of trustees.