PA- UPMC sends prison bill for suicide leap: $554,000

10-7-2008 Pennsylvania:

The furlough of a Westmoreland County Prison inmate just minutes after he took a suicide leap was not enough to avert a $554,000 medical bill.

But that check won't be in the mail anytime soon.

County officials said Monday they furloughed Tadd A. Naylor, 22, of North Belle Vernon to avoid paying for his care. Naylor jumped 12 feet from a second-floor balcony and fell onto steel tables before hitting concrete pavement. He was hospitalized for four months.

Jail officials rushed to get him furloughed before a helicopter lifted off to take him to UPMC in Pittsburgh on May 2. Naylor was furloughed by Westmoreland County Judge Debra A. Pezze just minutes after he hit the floor.

"I think we should refuse to pay, stand up and fight it," said Commissioner Kim Ward.

County officials learned Monday of the bill from UPMC health system. In a letter asking for payment, UPMC said the furlough would not save the county from paying the bill.

"The bills were initially submitted to Medical Assistance but were denied because it was determined the person was in custody of the Westmoreland County Jail at the time that the injuries were incurred," says the Sept. 15 letter signed by UPMC lawyer Yashmin H. Mukhtar.

Commissioner Tom Balya countered: "Our position is the inmate was furloughed and once he was furloughed he's not the county's responsibility. We'll tell that to UPMC and see where it goes."

Walton enacted the furlough plan to try to combat rising health costs for inmates injured at the jail. Earlier this year, the county received a $420,000 medical bill for an inmate who jumped over the same railing. The county has since installed a $20,000 fence.

County officials for years have struggled with rising health care costs for inmates. They want the state to pay those costs for inmates with no private insurance coverage. Inmates with private insurance should have to submit medical claims to their carrier, Balya said.

"This is about the larger issue about why counties are responsible for inmate health care," Balya said.

Commissioner Tom Ceraso said county lawyers will decide whether there is a legal basis to avoid paying Naylor's medical bill.

Westmoreland County Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said he is reviewing the issue and has made no determination.

Wendy Zellner, spokesperson for UPMC, said she could not discuss specifics of the case because of patient confidentiality.

Naylor was brought to the jail on a bench warrant for failing to appear at several court hearings. He had previously been sentenced to a 2-12-month jail sentence on 2005 drug charges and was awaiting a hearing for allegedly throwing rocks at a moving car from a 40-foot-high railroad trestle in Monessen in March 2005. ..News Source.. by Rich Cholodofsky, TRIBUNE-REVIEW