NCLC submitted testimony to the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee in support of HB25-1026, “Repeal Copayment for Department of Corrections Inmate Health Care.”
People incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the United States are routinely charged fees and costs for medical care that are inconsistent with their lack of financial means. When people can’t afford to pay, these fees can lead to insurmountable debt. As detailed in NCLC’s 2024 report “Medical Debt Behind Bars: The Punishing Impact of Copays, Fees, and Other Carceral Medical Debt,” these medical fees and resulting debts can negatively impact health outcomes, hinder successful reentry, and jeopardize financial security across generations.
The bill under consideration would eliminate medical copayments for incarcerated people and prohibit the Department of Corrections from assessing fees for missed healthcare appointments. With this strong bill, Colorado has the chance to join the twelve states that already ban medical copays and become a leader in the effort to prevent carceral medical fees and debts from harming its residents.
In our written testimony, we urge the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee to vote the bill favorably out of committee.
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