Bill would make prison health audit public
Source: By J.L. MILLER, The News Journal (DE), 01/26/2006
DOVER -- Lee McMillan, whose husband nearly died in prison after flesh-eating bacteria attacked his body, wants to know why the state won't release an audit of Delaware's prison health care system. So do some legislators, who are backing a bill that would require the state to release the audit and similar reports -- as long as confidential information such as personal medical records is withheld. House Bill 320, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Wagner, R-Dover North, would make reports that are paid for with public funds open to the public under the Freedom of Information Act.
..... In defending his record, Correction Commissioner Stan Taylor pointed to the audit, prepared by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, but denied a Freedom of Information request for the report by the newspaper. Taylor and former Attorney General M. Jane Brady ruled the accreditation report was not a public document. Taylor, though, said the audit was critical of the work of First Correctional Medical, a Tucson, Ariz., company. In July, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and Taylor awarded a $25.9 million no-bid contract to Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis to pick up the provision of medical care in Delaware's prisons.