Inmates would be required to make copayments for doctor visits under a bill heard by the Judiciary Committee Feb. 7.<\/p>\n
LB246, introduced by O\u2019Neill Sen. Tyson Larson, would require an inmate housed in a county or state correctional facility to pay a copayment of $10 for every self-initiated, non-emergency visit to a health care provider. Inmates who fail to pay would have 50 percent of their account deposits withheld until the copayment has been paid in full.<\/p>\n
Copayments would not be charged for treatments of chronic illnesses, diseases, emergency care or staff-initiated care.<\/p>\n
Larson said some inmates abuse the medical services provided to them by requesting to see doctors because they are bored and want to pass time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bill would help relieve the state and county costs of inmate medical care,\u201d Larson said.<\/p>\n
Holt County Sheriff Ben Matchett testified in support of the bill, calling it frustrating and costly to treat individuals who have nothing wrong with them.<\/p>\n
Amy Miller, legal director for ACLU-Nebraska, testified in opposition to the bill, saying it would transfer other costs to taxpayers.<\/p>\n
Requiring inmates to pay copayments would limit their ability to pay other expenses like child support, Miller said, which could result in an increase of public assistance to their families.<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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