County debates medical bill
By SHEILA RHOADES
Friday, August 22, 2008 9:06 PM EDT
Will Wabash County taxpayers have to come up with more than $36,000 to pay for medical bills for one Wabash County Jail inmate?
Not if the Wabash County Council has anything to say about it.
Three invoices were presented to the council this week as an additional appropriation from Sheriff Leroy Striker, who, along with Jail Commander Mark Henderson, have been making every effort to avoid billing the county for the tab, which totaled $36,310.
The anonymous inmate is a hemophiliac, who was stabbed while committing an armed robbery. He was recovering from his injury when he arrived at the jail.
"He has a pre-existing condition (hemophilia) that was not being treated until he came to the jail," Striker said. "But he is a documented, diagnosed hemophiliac, and because of the liability, I have to provide him with medical care."
According to Striker, he and Henderson have made contact with several entities, trying to determine whether the county is liable for the bill. And although the bill came to the sheriff, it was technically sent in the inmate's name.
The invoices were sent by the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center, Indianapolis, for medical attention received there.
"I am trying to justify to myself and this county why we should pay this bill when he has not been using medicine for months and has not seen a doctor in a year," Striker said. "But the Hemophilia foundation threatened me and the county with a civil suit."
"Because of the Legislature, we are being backed into corner," Council President Bob Fuller said. "So, do we take this on or just pay it and be done with it?"
"I think we need to look at the scope of the bill," Councilman Gary Nose said. "This is more money than a county employee makes in a year."
"So, if we approve it," Councilman Ted Little said, "aren't we just saying 'if you're going to have a heart attack, go commit a crime first?'"
Councilman Mike Ridenour suggested they table the idea of payment until the next meeting and inviting Rep. Bill Ruppel and Sen. Gary "Doc" Dillon to hear the issue.
Most agreed to the plan, but in the vote, both Little and Nose opposed it, feeling the county should not have to pay for the bill regardless of who heard the issue.
After commending Striker and Henderson for their efforts, Fuller said they will address the situation again - with Commissioner attorney Steve Downs present - at the Sept. 8 meeting.
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