Inmates: inmate-initiated medical and dental visits.

Under existing law, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is authorized to charge a fee in the amount of $5 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in the state prison. Existing law authorizes the medical provider to waive the fee, requires the medical provider to waive the fee in any life-threatening or emergency situation, as defined, exempts followup medical visits from the fee, and requires all moneys received pursuant to this provision to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be expended to reimburse the department for direct provision of inmate health care services. This bill would instead require that the above fee be charged and additionally require the Secretary to charge a $5 fee for each inmate-initiated dental visit. The bill would require that these fees be adjusted annually for inflation, as specified. The bill would provide for the fees to be charged even if the inmate has insufficient funds in his or her personal account to cover the fees, would require that any amounts owing be paid before spending on other items is permitted, except as specified, and would provide for the inmate to be billed for any balance owing, with payment due 6 months after release. The bill would require that followup medical or dental visits at the direction of the medical or dental staff be charged in an amount equal to 25% of the initial fee charged. The bill would require the dental provider to waive the fee in any life-threatening or emergency situation.