Administrative Rule 893: Medical Co-Pay (Arkansas DOC)

Arkansas Board of Corrections Administrative Rule 893 governs medical co-payments for people in Arkansas Division of Correction custody. It defines inmate-initiated services as those requested by the person, typically through a Sick Call Request, and expressly excludes emergency services, chronic care clinics, intake and periodic physical and dental examinations, clinician-scheduled follow-up, mental health contacts and disease-prevention visits such as tuberculosis testing. The co-pay is set by the Board of Corrections and capped at $5. Services are provided whether or not the person has funds; the assessment may not reduce an account below $5, and any unpaid balance stays as a lien until it can be paid without dropping below that figure. The approved list of chargeable procedures must be posted in housing areas and outside medical and dental treatment areas, with 30 days' notice of changes, and an oversight committee monitors whether the policy creates a barrier to needed care.