Patients requesting and/or receiving health services within the Dallas County jail will be assessed appropriate medical fees for services. Health services will be rendered regardless of the patient’s ability to pay for the service. The fee(s) may be deducted from an inmate’s trust fund (commissary) account so long the deduction does not cause the balance in the account to fall below $6.00.

Schedule of Fees:

  1. Patients will be charged a $10.00 medical care fee for each request for care (kite) that they submit, verbal request for medical care or incident that requires an assessment by a licensed health care staff member.
  2. Patients will be charged a $10.00 medical care fee for each inquiry received by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, which results in an assessment by a licensed health care staff member. (For example: verbal or written correspondence from family members, friends, attorneys, or public figures).

Exceptions:

  1. Patients will not be charged fees for nursing assessments performed upon intake.
  2. Patients will not be charged fees for medical and mental health assessments within the Medical Assessment Program (MAP) and the Psychiatric Assessment Program (PAP).
  3. Patients will not be charged fees for closed behavioral observation provider visits.
  4. Patients will not be charged fees for crisis stabilization services.
  5. Patients will not be charged fees for participation in mental health therapy groups.
  6. Patients will not be charged fees for follow up appointments made by health services.
  7. Patients will not be charged fees for prescription medications.
  8. Patients will not be charged fees for tuberculosis testing.
  9. Patients will not be charged fees for testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Appeals:

  1. Patients may appeal charges by submitting a written request to the Parkland site administrator’s office stating the date, the fee and the reason for the appeal.
  2. The patient’s commissary funds will be refunded by Dallas County personnel if it is determined that the charge is in error.

Posting of Notice:
These rules shall be placed in the inmate handbook given to the inmates. Also, these rules shall be posted on the inmate television channel and in the health clinics in the jails.