SB174 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Inmates, counties, jails, to provide certain items including health care, fees set, Sec. 14-6-19 am'd.

Summary

SB 174 would let Alabama counties pay jail medical providers at an agreed rate (or at the Medicaid rate if no agreement) and require counties to provide medical care and medicines to inmates.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, counties or their medical coordinating agents can pay medical providers at whatever rate they have an agreement for. If no rate is agreed, payments must be at the then-current Alabama Medicaid rate or fee schedule. The bill also clarifies that counties must provide necessary medicines and medical attention to sick or injured inmates at county expense when inmates cannot pay, using payments, government benefits, or insurance; and it states that counties are not responsible for services covered by other government entities.

Who It Affects

• Counties and their contracted medical coordinating agents, who would determine and pay rates for inmate medical services (or rely on Medicaid rates if no rate is agreed).
• County jail inmates, who would receive medicines and medical attention funded by the county (or other approved payment sources) and have care provided when they cannot pay themselves.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 14-6-19 to authorize counties or their contracted medical coordinating agents to pay a medical provider a rate or fee agreed upon with the provider; if no rate is agreed, payment must be the then-current Alabama Medicaid rate or fee schedule.
• Requires counties to furnish necessary medicines and medical attention to county inmates who are sick or injured at county expense when inmates cannot pay through money, government benefits, or insurance.
• Specifies that the county’s payment obligation does not make the county responsible for services covered by Sections 14-3-30 and 14-6-22, or for inmates for whom another governmental entity is responsible.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prisons and Prisoners