Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments, the official text

Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Doug Fiefia
Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses medical treatment rates for inmates.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill: creates a restricted account known as the Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account (restricted account);
requires the Department of Health and Human Services (department) to pay the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Utah's physician groups Medicare rates for medical services rendered to inmates;
requires the department to submit a report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee that includes: a calculation of savings from paying the Medicare rate; and
an accounting of the restricted account;

defines terms; and
makes technical and conforming changes.

Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS:
26B-4-1002, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 88

ENACTS:
26B-1-337, Utah Code Annotated 1953

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 26B-1-337 is enacted to read:
26B-1-337. Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account.
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Account" means the Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account created in Subsection (2).
(b) "Division" means the Division of Correctional Health Services.
(c) "Savings" means the difference between the rate the department pays to the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Utah's physician groups for outpatient services under Subsection 26B-4-1002(8), and the cost to charge rate for the medical services rendered to an inmate by the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Utah's physician groups.

(2) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the "Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account."
(3) The account consists of: (a) 50% of carry forward funds from the division's budget due to savings; and
(b) unexpended balances lapsed to the account from the division's budget.

(4) The remaining 50% of carry forward funds from the division's budget due to savings shall be deposited into the General Fund.
(5) At the close of the fiscal year, the department may, without an appropriation, deposit into the account carry forward funds described in Subsection (3)(a).
(6) Money in the fund may only be used by the division for purposes approved by the department.
(7) Before approving an expenditure or commitment to expend, the department shall obtain approval for the expenditure or commitment to expend from the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

Section 2. Section 26B-4-1002 is amended to read:
26B-4-1002. Medical care for inmates -- Reporting of statistics.
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account" means the account created in Section 26B-1-337.
(b) "Savings" means the difference between the rate the department pays to the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Utah's physician groups under Subsection (8), and the cost to charge rate for the medical services rendered to an inmate by the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and University of Utah's physician groups.

[(1)] (2) The department shall: (a) for each health care facility owned or operated by the Department of Corrections, assist the Department of Corrections in complying with Section 64-13-39;
(b) in coordination with the Department of Corrections, and as the Department of Correction's agent: (i) create policies and procedures for providing comprehensive health care to inmates;
(ii) provide inmates with comprehensive health care; and
(iii) develop standard population indicators and performance measures relating to the health of inmates;

(c) collaborate with the Department of Corrections to comply with Section 64-13-25.1; and
(d) contract with a telehealth psychiatric consultation provider to provide consultation services to staff responsible for inmates' psychiatric care.

[(2)] (3) In providing the comprehensive health care described in Subsection [(1)(b)(ii)] (2)(b)(ii), the department may not, without entering into an agreement with the Department of Corrections, provide, operate, or manage any treatment plans for inmates that are: (a) required to be provided, operated, or managed by the Department of Corrections in accordance with Section 64-13-6; and
(b) not related to the comprehensive health care provided by the department.

[(3)] (4) Beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, the department shall: (a) evaluate and study the use of medical monitoring technology and create a plan for a pilot program that identifies: (i) the types of medical monitoring technology that will be used during the pilot program; and
(ii) eligibility for participation in the pilot program; and

(b) make the indicators and performance measures described in Subsection [(1)(b)(iii)] (2)(b)(iii) available to the public through the Department of Corrections and the department websites.

[(4)] (5) Beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2029, the department shall implement the pilot program.
[(5)] (6) The department shall submit to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee: (a) a report on or before October 1 of each year regarding the costs and benefits of the pilot program;
(b) a report that summarizes the indicators and performance measures described in Subsection [(1)(b)(iii)] (2)(b)(iii) on or before October 1, 2024; and
(c) an updated report before October 1 of each year that compares the indicators and population measures of the most recent year to the initial report described in Subsection [(5)(b)] (6)(b).

[(6)] (7) An inmate receiving comprehensive health care from the department remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
(8) Beginning on May 6, 2026, the department shall reimburse the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Utah's physician groups at Medicare rates for outpatient services rendered to an inmate on or after May 6, 2026.
(9) (a) The department shall annually submit a report: (i) to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee on or before November 1 of each year; and
(ii) to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee upon request.

(b) The report described in Subsection (9)(a) shall include: (i) a calculation of savings;
(ii) an accounting of the Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account; and
(iii) any other information the Health and Human Services Interim Committee or Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee requires.

Section 3. Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.

3-12-26 12:05 PM