Perdue OKs charging inmates for health care

Prisons now have more power to charge inmates for their medical costs while behind bars.

Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a measure into law Tuesday that allows state and county corrections officials to draw up regulations to deduct the money for some medical costs from inmates’ accounts.

It excludes costs related to pregnancies and chronic illnesses, which include diabetes, cancer and renal disease.

Prisons are constitutionally required to provide medical care to inmates. But the measure’s sponsors say it is designed to help offset soaring prison medical costs for those inmates who are able to pay.