Existing law authorizes a city or county to make claim for and recovery of the costs of necessary hospital, medical, surgical, dental, or optometric care rendered to any prisoner confined in a county or city jail, who would otherwise be entitled to that care under the Medi-Cal program, as specified, or under the provisions of any private program or policy. Existing law provides that the city or county is only liable for the costs of that care that cannot be recovered. Existing law also authorizes a sheriff, chief or director of corrections, or chief of police to charge a fee in the amount of $3 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in a county or city jail. Existing law provides that the fee is charged to the inmate’s personal account at the facility, and that, if the inmate does not have any money in his or her personal account, there is no charge for the medical visit. Existing law also provides that an inmate shall not be denied medical care because of a lack of funds in his or her personal account at the facility.

This bill would revise the provision authorizing a sheriff, chief or director of corrections, or chief of police to charge a fee in the amount of $3 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in a county or city jail, and would instead authorize those persons to establish and charge a single, standardized fee a fee in the amount of $5 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in a county or city jail, except as specified. The bill would require that the same fee charged be charged to all inmates, except as otherwise provided under existing law. The bill would prohibit the fee from exceeding the reasonable costs incurred by the facility as a result of the visit.