Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(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).
