Z-0469.2  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5024

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

 

By Senators Hargrove, Long, Smith, Winsley, McCaslin, Rasmussen, Bauer, Schow and Oke; by request of Department of Corrections

 

Read first time 01/09/95.  Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

 

Requiring offenders to assist in paying for certain health care services.



    AN ACT Relating to health care services for offenders; amending RCW 72.10.020; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 72.10.020 and 1989 c 157 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department may develop and implement a health services plan for the delivery of health care services to ((inmates)) offenders in the department's ((custody)) correctional facilities, at the discretion of the secretary, and in conformity with state and federal law.

    (2) In order to discourage the unwarranted use of health care services, all offenders shall participate in the costs of health care services by paying a nominal amount, determined by the secretary.  Pursuant to the authority granted in chapter 34.05 RCW, the secretary may collect this amount for health care services directly from an offender's institution account.

    (3) Offenders are required to make copayments for health care services that are offender initiated.  Offenders are not required to pay for emergency treatment or for visits initiated by health care staff or treatment of those conditions that constitute a serious health care need.

    (4) No offender may be refused any health care service because of indigence.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  The department shall adopt rules to implement this act.

 


                            --- END ---