Federal Prison Per-Inmate Health Care Costs Rose 36% From 2009 To 2016

Per-inmate health care costs in federal prisons rose from $6,334 in 2009 to $8,602 in 2016: a 36% increase. During the same period, inmate numbers decreased by 9%, from about 172,000 in 2009 to 156,266 in 2016. The share of inmates over age 55 has increased from 8.4% in 2009 to 12.0% in 2016.

Per-inmate health care costs are those monies paid by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for on-site medical staff salaries and expenses, medical supplies, pharmaceutical, dental, and psychological treatment costs. These costs also include costs of treating inmates . . .