§ 31-4. Collection and reimbursement of inmate medical expenses.

(a)

In compliance with and under the authority of LSA R.S. 15:705(C), the sheriff of any correctional facility of the Parish of Jefferson shall obtain reimbursement for an inmate's medical, psychiatric or dental expenses and, in addition to any other lawful collection methods, shall withdraw from an inmate's commissary account such reimbursement for the inmate's medical, psychiatric or dental expenses at the time the expenses are incurred or as soon thereafter as the inmate's commissary account has sufficient assets for reimbursement for medical, psychiatric and dental expenses; the sheriff shall forward such reimbursement funds to the Parish of Jefferson.

(b)

The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the withdrawal of funds for the purpose of payments under the Crime Victims Reparations Act, court costs as authorized by law, and other withdrawals specifically authorized by the sheriff, in that order.

(c)

The Jefferson Parish Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall establish written rules for the collection of medical, psychiatric and dental expenses and for freezing assets in an inmate's commissary account and prohibiting withdrawals therefrom until the expenses are paid.

(d)

The rules, adopted by the Jefferson Parish Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, pursuant to this section, shall include provisions:

(1)

Requiring the inmate to file the appropriate claims with any and all private medical, psychiatric, dental or health care insurer or any public medical, psychiatric, dental or health care insurer or any public medical, psychiatric or dental assistance program, under which the inmate may be covered or from which the inmate may make a claim, for payment or reimbursement for the cost of such medical, psychiatric or dental services provided to the inmate while confined in any Jefferson Parish correctional facility; and

(2)

Requiring that the amount of reimbursement shall not exceed the actual cost of the medical services rendered and shall have the following minimum schedule:

Per sick call visit for medical, psychiatric or dental services ..... $5.00

Per prescription ..... 5.00

(e)

The medical, psychiatric and dental reimbursement shall be conditioned upon the following:

(1)

The initial medical evaluation upon entry into the correctional facility shall be made at no charge to the inmate;

(2)

Inmates shall be informed of the reimbursement requirement at the time a request for medical, psychiatric or dental services is made; and

(3)

No inmate shall be refused medical, psychiatric or dental treatment for lack of funds.

(f)

Any inmate who is discharged or transferred to another facility shall remain liable for any reimbursement authorized by this section.

(g)

Except as provided for in paragraph (b), reimbursements for medical, psychiatric or dental expenses shall be made prior to any other withdrawal from an inmate's commissary account; and in order to secure payment under this section:

(1)

The inmate's commissary account may be frozen regardless of the source of the assets contained therein;

(2)

If at any time an inmate's commissary account does not have sufficient funds to reimburse the costs of medical, psychiatric or dental services, the account shall carry a negative balance until such time as funds are deposited into that account; when funds become available, the medical, psychiatric or dental reimbursement shall be immediately deducted from the account; and

(3)

If an inmate is discharged with a negative balance in the commissary account due to unpaid medical or dental reimbursement and that inmate is subsequently returned to any Jefferson Parish correctional facility, the unpaid balance shall immediately be collected from the new commissary account established upon entry to the correctional facility in accordance with the provisions outlined herein.

(Ord. No. 20200, § 1, 11-19-97)