HB83 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Jails, county inmates, set costs for provision of medical care by hospitals, Sec. 14-6-19 am'd.

Summary

HB 83 would let Alabama counties pay for county inmate medical care at an agreed rate with providers, or at the Medicare rate if no rate is agreed, and it clarifies who pays for certain medical costs.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows counties or their medical coordinating agents to pay medical providers the rate they have agreed upon. If no rate is agreed, hospitals that receive state or local funding for operation and that treat inmates must be paid at the then-current Medicare rate or fee schedule. It also clarifies that the county is not responsible for certain medical costs if another government entity is responsible for them.

Who It Affects

• County governments and sheriffs: gain a clear framework for paying inmate medical providers, including how rates are determined and what happens if no rate is agreed.
• Hospitals and other medical providers serving county inmates: will be paid either the agreed rate or, if no rate exists, the Medicare rate, with special consideration for hospitals receiving government funding.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes counties or their contracted medical coordinating agent to pay providers of medical services the rate or fee agreed upon with the provider.
• If no agreed rate exists, requires hospitals that receive state or local funding for construction or operation and that provide inmate medical services to be paid the then-current Medicare rate or fee schedule by the county or its agent.
• Specifies that the county or its agent is not responsible for certain medical services or inmates where another governmental entity bears the cost.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prisons and Prisoners