A $100 million contract for the University of Connecticut Health Center to provide care for prisoners faces new scrutiny, with some legislators suggesting the cash-strapped government could reduce the cost by opening it to bids from private entities, The Associated Press reports.
The exclusive contract with the state teaching hospital, which dates to 1997, covers care for more than 19,000 offenders incarcerated at state prisons or assigned to halfway houses.
“Although I’m sure UConn does a great job, why not take a look at this because there could be private nonprofit providers or whoever that can possibly do it at a more effective result and a lower cost as well,” said Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown, the ranking Republican senator on the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.
Connecticut’s general fund budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, is estimated to be about $3.5 billion in deficit or nearly 20 percent of general fund spending.
Given the state’s fiscal crisis, now is a good time to review the contract and potentially open it to competition, said Rep. Bryan Hurlburt, D-Tolland, a new member of the Appropriations Committee.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat, is expected to present his two-year budget proposal on Feb. 16. His budget director, Benjamin Barnes, said the administration is willing to take a look at the contract between the health center and the state’s Department of Correction for possible savings.
