Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-155

Rep. Clarke

Sen. Bishop

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

January 12, 1998

House Judiciary

Susan Colling (866-4784)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR MEDICALLY-RELATED SERVICES TO INMATES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS


Summary of Assessment


            This bill would change the current system in the Department of Corrections of charging an inmate’s account for visits to a physician, dentist or optometrist. The bill directs the department to assess a consistent copayment against an inmate’s account for every medical, dental, or optometric service provided to an inmate. Each service would not be required to have the same copayment amount.


            Further, the bill directs the Executive Director of the Department of Corrections to promulgate rules concerning copayments which must address the following:

 

                      amount of the copayment for medical, dental, and optometric services;

                      procedures to be followed by personnel in assessing copayments;

                      exclusive bases for waiving copayments;

                      information needed by personnel at the time services are rendered; and

                      disciplinary actions against personnel who fail to assess the copayment.


            The bill directs the Department of Corrections to monitor the collection of copayments to ensure consistency. In addition, the department would be required to report to the Legislative Audit Committee by September 1, 1999, on services rendered and copayments collected before and after the enactment of the act. The bill also requires the department to analyze the effectiveness of the copayment schedule for consistency and reduction of unnecessary services.


            The bill would become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the ninety-day period after adjournment sine die of the General Assembly, or on the date of the official declaration of the vote of the people as proclaimed by the Governor, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (3) of the State Constitution.


            The bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact. The bill creates administrative changes to an existing program in the Department of Corrections. Currently, inmates are assessed a monetary charge when receiving medical, dental, or optometric services. The bill would require the Department of Corrections to modify current means of assessing inmates for such services and any additional workload could be absorbed within existing resources.


Departments Contacted


            Department of Corrections

            Department of Law