Eliminating Medical Co-pays for Incarcerated Individuals
December 28, 2022 09:04 AM to All Senate Members
Circulated By
Senator Camera Bartolotta
R Senate District 46
Memo
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would permanently eliminate medical co-pays for incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania. This measure was Senate Bill 1196 from the previous legislative Session.
Throughout the past few years, we have been reminded that keeping people who live and work in prisons healthy is a matter of community safety. Disease can quickly spread to others in the facility – and into the community – when people are released before being treated or corrections staff return to their families and communities.
Currently, a $5 medical co-pay is charged to individuals incarcerated in state prisons each time they seek medical care. While this may not seem like much to you or me, because the majority of prison jobs only pay 19 to 42 cents an hour, this is a significant barrier for inmates.
The current $5 co-pay creates a system where incarcerated individuals must choose between basic healthcare and everyday necessities. Delaying or postponing healthcare because of costly prohibitive co-pays, only leads to increased healthcare costs for the state.
The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) recognizes the serious need for adequate healthcare for incarcerated individuals and stands opposed to fee-for-service or co-pay programs that restrict patient access to care.
Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.
Throughout the past few years, we have been reminded that keeping people who live and work in prisons healthy is a matter of community safety. Disease can quickly spread to others in the facility – and into the community – when people are released before being treated or corrections staff return to their families and communities.
Currently, a $5 medical co-pay is charged to individuals incarcerated in state prisons each time they seek medical care. While this may not seem like much to you or me, because the majority of prison jobs only pay 19 to 42 cents an hour, this is a significant barrier for inmates.
The current $5 co-pay creates a system where incarcerated individuals must choose between basic healthcare and everyday necessities. Delaying or postponing healthcare because of costly prohibitive co-pays, only leads to increased healthcare costs for the state.
The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) recognizes the serious need for adequate healthcare for incarcerated individuals and stands opposed to fee-for-service or co-pay programs that restrict patient access to care.
Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.
Legislation
Document - Introduced as SB 174
Last updated on January 12, 2023 09:59 AM
Eliminating Medical Co-pays for Incarcerated Individuals
December 28, 2022 09:04 AM to All Senate Members
Circulated By
BARTOLOTTA
Memo
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would permanently eliminate medical co-pays for incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania. This measure was Senate Bill 1196 from the previous legislative Session.
Throughout the past few years, we have been reminded that keeping people who live and work in prisons healthy is a matter of community safety. Disease can quickly spread to others in the facility – and into the community – when people are released before being treated or corrections staff return to their families and communities.
Currently, a $5 medical co-pay is charged to individuals incarcerated in state prisons each time they seek medical care. While this may not seem like much to you or me, because the majority of prison jobs only pay 19 to 42 cents an hour, this is a significant barrier for inmates.
The current $5 co-pay creates a system where incarcerated individuals must choose between basic healthcare and everyday necessities. Delaying or postponing healthcare because of costly prohibitive co-pays, only leads to increased healthcare costs for the state.
The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) recognizes the serious need for adequate healthcare for incarcerated individuals and stands opposed to fee-for-service or co-pay programs that restrict patient access to care.
Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.
Throughout the past few years, we have been reminded that keeping people who live and work in prisons healthy is a matter of community safety. Disease can quickly spread to others in the facility – and into the community – when people are released before being treated or corrections staff return to their families and communities.
Currently, a $5 medical co-pay is charged to individuals incarcerated in state prisons each time they seek medical care. While this may not seem like much to you or me, because the majority of prison jobs only pay 19 to 42 cents an hour, this is a significant barrier for inmates.
The current $5 co-pay creates a system where incarcerated individuals must choose between basic healthcare and everyday necessities. Delaying or postponing healthcare because of costly prohibitive co-pays, only leads to increased healthcare costs for the state.
The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) recognizes the serious need for adequate healthcare for incarcerated individuals and stands opposed to fee-for-service or co-pay programs that restrict patient access to care.
Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.
Document
Introduced as SB 174
Last Updated
January 12, 2023 09:59 AM
Generated 03/21/2025 11:28 PM