Hospitals in California are sick of footing the bill for suspected criminals brought in for treatment should those criminals lack insurance. Instead, officials feel that the government entity holding suspects should have to pay for any such care, reports the San Diego Union Tribune.
Case in point, a recent incident involving a suspect brought to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. According to the Tribune, a police sergeant brought the suspect in for treatment following an altercation in which the suspect was shot for pulling a "fake gun" on the officer. As it turns out, the suspect didn't have any health insurance, and because he had not yet been arrested, the hospital was forced to pick up the tab.
An officer admitted to the Tribune that the suspect wasn't arrested until after leaving the hospital to prevent the city from having to pay for care. According to Scripps CEO Chris Van Gorter, emergency treatment for such an injury can cost up to $300,000.
"Frankly, it happens too often," Steven Escoboza, CEO of the Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties, told the newspaper. Escoboza added that several hospitals throughout California are working to change the law so that whoever has custody of such individuals at the time of care would have to pay for care.
To learn more:
- read this San Diego Union Tribune article