The bill addresses copayments in for inmates in the correction system.
Key Provisions:
Elimination of Copayments:
The bill removes the requirement for inmates to pay a copayment for initiating visits to medical, dental, mental health, and optometric care providers.
Prohibition of Fees for Missed Appointments:
The Department of Corrections is prohibited from assessing fees when an inmate fails to attend or refuses a scheduled health-care appointment.
Summary
Current law requires the department of corrections (department)
to assess a copayment for inmate-initiated visits to providers of medical, dental, mental health, and optometric care services. Current law permits a waiver or reduction of the copayment under a range of circumstances. The department's current administrative regulations assess fees when an inmate fails to attend or refuses a scheduled health-care appointment. The bill eliminates the copayment and prohibits the department from assessing a fee when an inmate fails to attend or refuses a health-care appointment.
