Beginning September 1, 2019, there was a change in the state law regarding the amount of health care services fees that the Department of Criminal Justice is required to collect from each inmate who request a visit to a health care provider.

You will be charged a health care service fee of $13.55 for the first seven health care visits that you request, totaling $94.85 for the year. You make such a request by completing and submitting a Sick Call Request form or by requesting staff members’ aid in accessing routine health care services that are non-emergent or life-threatening as walk-in patient.

Any visits that you request after the first seven health care visits that do not meet the exemption criteria, during the state fiscal year, will not be charged the $13.55 fee. If you do not request a health care visit, you will not be charged a fee for health care.

The fee will be charged to your trust fund account. If there is not enough money in your trust fund account, the law requires that 50% of each deposit to your trust fund account be applied to the amount owed until the total amount is paid.

You will not be charged for a health care visit that is for:

• an emergency or life-threatening situation
• follow-up services recommended by the health care staff
• chronic care (including communicable diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and TB)
• prenatal care
• health screening and evaluations related to the diagnostic and intake process
• health care services necessary to comply with state law and regulations

You will not be denied health care if you do not have money in your trust fund account to pay the fee.