Views on Texas healthcare for prison inmates

Tax payers like to believe that any money they have taken by the government is going to be used for their long term benefit and growth, but what if they knew that it was being used to keep the people who wronged society healthy out of their pocket? The Houston Chronicle brings up the case of Donald Rash, a 61 year old felon, who is serving a 23 year sentence and was refused parole to go to a nursing center halfway through his time, yet continues to receive state provided healthcare for his diabetes, hepatitis C, and other heath concerns. The story of this man brings up an interesting topic: should prison inmates receive high healthcare benefits?

With a budget that seems to be as tight as our state's, it doesn't seem like the brightest idea. The Chronicle supports the thought with statistics, such as the fact that the top TEN inmates alone costed 1.9 million dollars in healthcare costs back in 2011 and that healthcare for inmates takes up 30 percent of the state healthcare budget. They are trying to appeal to reason and point out the issues with the current system to the common reader, and help them understand that the current healthcare plan for inmates is a burden on the state, hence a burden to taxpayers.

These thoughts in mind, I agree with the article and its concerns. I believe that the state should not provide any more health care than is necessary to those who have betrayed society's trust. If it is obvious that the person is too ill or old to commit another crime, or is looking death in the eye, then release them from prison into a secure home and track them. There is no reason at that point to spend government money and pour it into the prison system for medical reasons at that point. The funds the government receives should be used to help the folks who are out in the world, not those behind bars.