Texas is the still the leader in the nation when it comes to the uninsured state citizen.  But when it comes to treating inmates with viral diseases such as hepatitis C, now prisoners are getting better health care than the average hardworking person.  The underlying message, and I digress, is commit a crime and get a health package that most of us can't afford. 
      Currently, 2.8 million dollars is spent annually treating hepatitis C in our prison system but that figure is set to jump to as high as 13 million because two new standard treatments with more expensive medicine are set to begin soon.  Hepatitis C spreads through use of infected tattoo needles, IV drug needles, and of course unprotected inmate sex.  While there are rules against these behaviors, the spread of the disease is on the rise. 
     Statewide penitentiary prevention is in place in the form of inmates trying to educate their own population but success has been minimal to moderate.  Policy changes are being explored but no legislative member or official has had the courage to admit that the most cost effective plan is to provide tattooing needles, syringes, and condoms to the prison population.  Officials say from one corner of their mouth that it's all about reducing the spread of this disease in prison in order to save society when prisoners are released, but they seemingly refuse to offer any practical solution.  Until cost effective plans are introduced, the state and its citizens will keep flipping the bill.

In this Texas Tribune article, by Brandi Grissom, the high cost of inmate health and hepatitis C and its implication to the tax payer is reported upon.