Policy Directive 03.04.101: Prisoner Health Care Copayment (Michigan DOC)

Michigan DOC Policy Directive 03.04.101, effective May 2, 2022, states that prisoners are offered necessary medical, dental and optometric services regardless of ability to pay but are charged for services they request. The copayment is $5.00 per medical, dental or optometric visit, and only one fee may be charged per visit no matter how many symptoms are addressed. No copayment applies to visits initiated by a qualified health professional or required by the department, including transfer assessments, intake and annual health screenings and required follow-up care. Prisoner-initiated visits are also exempt when they concern a documented work-related injury, testing for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, infestations or reportable communicable diseases, evaluation or treatment of a mental health need, or where the visit results in emergency medical care within one hour. Care is requested on the Prisoner Request for Health Care Services form (CHJ-549), which staff must review with anyone unable to read it; refusing to sign does not stop care but triggers an administrative hearing on removing the funds, and unpaid fees become an institutional debt.