County Says Inmates Must Pay For Some Medical Treatments

Citing rising costs, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that inmates at the county jail will have to pay for some medical services.

In a news release issued Friday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office said it is trying to offset the rising costs of nonemergency medical services, including requests to see the nursing staff, doctor or dentist.

Even though the Sheriff’s Offices tries to keep cost down by finding the most cost-effective health care provider using a competitive-bid process, using Medicare and Medicaid when appropriate and private medical insurance if the inmate has it, this is a first time it has imposed a fee while the inmate is incarcerated in a county jail facility.

According the federal and state law, the release says, no inmates can be denied appropriate medical care due to their inability to pay.