(RALEIGH) -- State officials are considering the idea of using a private service to provide health care for prison inmates. Dana Cope, head of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, said other states have tried a similar approach to providing healh care to inmates and it has not worked well.

"We see these companies come in and lowball the initial bid in order to win the contract.  Immediately the standard of care goes down dramatically and then the other thing that happens is very soon after being awarded the contract the cost increases to the state," said Cope.

He added that the idea of using private companies was floated by Gov. Perdue after she was asked to come up with money saving options. Cope, who represents the interests of state workers, said the actual costs are higher than they would be if state workers were used.