WALKER — Cass County will begin charging its jail inmates for medical care.

The county has been paying about $100,000 per year for that care. Inmates who have insurance will be expected to use it. Those who don’t will pay a portion of the cost of their medical care.

Sheriff’s officials say they expect fewer inmates will ask to see a doctor or to go to a hospital merely as a way to get out of jail for a while. Jail Lt. Joel Norenberg, in Walker, says the sheriff’s department will use a collection agency to collect payments that run 60 days past-due.

Work release or temporary release inmates will not be charged the medical fees.