Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 004 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS › Rule 004.00.20-037 - AR 893 Medical Co-Pay

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
I.
AUTHORITY
:
The authority of the Board of Corrections to promulgate this
			 Administrative Rule is vested in Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary Session,
			 as amended; Act 549 of 1993, Regular Session, as amended; and Act 323 of 2001,
			 Regular Session.
II.
PURPOSE
:
The purpose of this policy is to encourage responsible use of
			 medical services by inmates to improve the quality of the services rendered. A
			 broader purpose of providing an opportunity for inmates to learn increased
			 responsibility for their own choices and actions is also intended.
III.
APPLICABILITY
:
This policy is applicable to all inmates in the physical custody
			 of the Arkansas Department of Correction.
IV.
DEFINITIONS
:
Inmate-initiated services
are those
			 services requested by the inmate, typically through Sick Call Request. The
			 definition specifically does not include emergency services, chronic care
			 clinics necessary to track and treat diagnosed medical disorders, physical and
			 dental examinations scheduled at intake and regular intervals thereafter,
			 clinician scheduled follow-up for treatment of a medical or dental disorder,
			 mental health contacts, or visits related to disease prevention such as
			 tuberculosis testing and prevention.
Co-pay
is an amount, not to exceed $5, set by the
			 Board of Corrections for a period of time corresponding to the biennial
			 budgeting of the State of Arkansas that shall be charged against an inmate's
			 account.
V.
POLICY
:
Inmates seeking
inmate-initiated
services shall be
			 assessed, at the point of service, a preset amount of
Co-pay
.
			 Inmates will be provided the services regardless of whether they have the means
			 in their inmate accounts to satisfy the assessment. The amount of the
			 assessment may not reduce the inmate's account below $5. Any unpaid balance
			 would remain as a lien on the account until it could be satisfied without
			 reducing the balance below $5.
VI.
PROCEDURES
:
1. A list of
inmate-initiated
medical and dental procedures subject to
Co-pay
shall be
		  recommended to the Board of Corrections for approval. The approved list shall
		  be posted in housing areas and at the front of medical and dental examination
		  and treatment areas. This list may be changed by approval of the Board of
		  Corrections at any time, with thirty (30)-day prior notice being
		  posted.
2. An amount of
Co-pay
shall be set by the Board of Corrections and similarly
		  posted. This amount must be reviewed biannually by the Board, but may be
		  changed any time the Board believes that it is in the best interest of the
		  inmate population to do so.
3. The
		  Director shall establish and review annually an Administrative Directive that
		  implements this policy and provides the mechanisms for assessing and collecting
Co-pay
.
4. An
		  oversight committee shall be appointed by the Director to see to the collection
		  of data regarding the impact of this policy, and to ensure that this policy
		  does not create a barrier to needed medical services for any inmate.
5. All monies collected shall be earmarked
		  for expenditure for third party (independent quality assurance) review of the
		  quality of medical services. This review is intended to assure that the quality
		  of services delivered is comparable to those available in the community, and to
		  assure that the effect of this Administrative Rule on the delivery of health
		  care services is positive.