General Health Care Services

(1) The county correctional facility shall have a written agreement with an adequately equipped medical facility which meets the legal requirements for a licensed general hospital and will permit admission of inmates in an emergency or upon recommendation of the facility health authority or Sheriff/facility administrator. (2) Written policy and procedure shall provide, at a minimum, the following special medical programs: (a) chronic care - medical services rendered to a patient over a long period of time; (b) convalescent care - medical services rendered to a patient to assist in the recovery from illness or injury; (c) for county correctional facilities housing female inmates, proper medical services appropriate to the special needs of the female population; (d) medical preventive maintenance including health education and medical services provided to take advance measures against disease, such as inoculation and immunizations; (e) management and care of inmates with communicable or infectious disease, including provisions for isolation if medically indicated; (f) detoxification from alcohol and other drugs under medical supervision; (g) as determined by the responsible physician, the provision of a medical prosthesis or elective surgery, when the health of the inmate would otherwise be adversely affected; and (h) the use of restraints for medical and psychiatric purposes, in conformance with M.G.L. c. 123, § 21. The above policy and procedure shall be updated as new information becomes available. (3) Written policy and procedure shall be developed regarding informed consent that provides for the following: (a) all examinations, treatments and procedures affected by informed consent standards in the community, shall be observed for inmate care; (b) that health care is rendered against an inmate's will only in accordance with law; and, (c) in the case of minors, the informed consent of parent, guardian or legal custodian applies when required by law. (4) If a medical co-payment program is used, written policy and procedure shall be developed and shall address the following: (a) a co-payment fee may be required of all inmates for self-initiated sick call visits pursuant to M.G.L. c 127, § 16A and c. 124, §§ 1(c ) and 1(s); (b) each county correctional facility participating in an inmate co-payment plan shall develop written procedures pertaining to the collection of fees, including the eligibility criteria of the co-payment plan. (5) Written policy and procedure shall be developed to provide a means to ascertain whether an inmate has insurance, and if so, to ensure appropriate billing for any services provided, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 124, § 1(t).