Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Visiting To Resume At Federal Prisons
ABC News: Bureau Of Prisons Resumes In-Person Visits As Inmates, Staff Continue To Die From COVID-19
The Bureau of Prisons announced on Monday that in-person visits will resume at all 122 facilities within the bureau, according to an internal memo obtained by ABC News. "Social visiting will resume no later than Saturday, October 3, 2020," the memo states, and visits will be non-contact only. (Barr, 8/31)
In other prison news —
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia May Privatize Prison Pharmacies; Workers Fear Layoffs
The Georgia Department of Corrections is considering privatizing the state’s prison pharmacy services, a potentially significant change to the way health care is delivered for the state’s 53,000 inmates. The agency is seeking bids to effectively replace the current pharmacy services department, which is administered by a partnership with Augusta University, according to documents the state released to entice potential bidders. The university provides health care for inmates through a contract with the state. The pharmacy branch of the operation has roughly 60 employees spread around the state’s 34 prisons and special facilities. (Sharpe, 8/31)
The Oklahoman: Oklahoma County Jail Trust Accepts $34 Million Allocation During Tense Meeting
The Oklahoma County Jail Trust formally accepted $34 million in CARES Act funding during a meeting Monday in a 7-2 vote. A list detailing what the money will be spent on has not been released yet, and the roughly 40 demonstrators who addressed the trust during public comment were furious the money was accepted before a plan was announced. (Branch, 9/1)
AP: Officials: Tennessee Prison Has Nearly 1,000 COVID Cases
Nearly 1,000 inmates at a Tennessee prison have tested positive for COVID-19, corrections officials said Monday. Officials tested 1,410 inmates at South Central Correctional Facility late last week after several inmates and staff began showing symptoms, the Tennessee Department of Correction said in a news release. As of late Monday afternoon, 974 of the inmates had tested positive for the disease while another 189 results were pending, according to TDOC statistics. The prison in Wayne County is run by private prison company CoreCivic. (8/31)
The Hill: Dozens Of Inmates At West Virginia Prison Test Positive For Coronavirus
Nearly 150 inmates at a correctional facility in West Virginia have tested positive for COVID-19 as prison officials across the country continue to struggle with outbreaks. Data released by the state's Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday revealed that 138 positive cases have been confirmed at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, where just over 2,100 inmates are housed. Close to 200 inmates were still waiting for test results as of Sunday. (Bowden, 8/31)
