New York Assembly Bill A04529

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires a person incarcerated in state and county-owned or operated correctional facilities to make medical co-payments of seven dollars upon receipt of medical treatment; provides that an incarcerated individual shall not be refused treatment for lack of ability to pay co-payment charges; directs all moneys collected to be made available for the operation of such correctional facility.

Summary

This bill would amend the Correction Law to require incarcerated individuals in state prisons and county-owned or operated local correctional facilities to pay a $7 medical co-payment when they receive medical treatment. The charge would be assessed after the visit is completed, and incarcerated individuals could not be denied treatment because they cannot pay at the time of service. The bill also exempts psychiatric visits from the co-payment requirement. The bill sets out administrative procedures for collecting and tracking the charges. Incarcerated individuals would sign a log documenting the visit, the charge would be posted to their account as a medical or dental expense, and monthly account statements would be provided. If an individual lacks sufficient funds, the account would be frozen until the debt is satisfied. The bill also addresses billing for federal incarcerated individuals housed in New York facilities and directs the commissioner to adopt implementing regulations.

Impact

The bill would add a new section 608 to the Correction Law and create a statewide medical co-payment system for incarcerated people in state and local correctional facilities. It would authorize facilities to assess and collect $7 per medical visit, establish account-based billing and collection procedures, and require monthly statements and regulatory implementation. All collected funds would be retained for the operation of the correctional facility, affecting both correctional finance and inmate account administration.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a correctional-facility funding and cost-recovery proposal rather than a treatment restriction, since it expressly preserves access to care regardless of ability to pay. No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or recorded support/opposition. The overall tone of the bill is administrative and fiscally oriented.

Contention

The main likely point of contention is whether charging incarcerated people for medical care is appropriate or counterproductive, especially given the bill’s provision freezing accounts when funds are unavailable. Supporters would likely emphasize cost recovery and facility operations, while critics may argue that even modest co-payments can deter care or burden indigent incarcerated individuals. The psychiatric-visit exemption suggests sensitivity to mental health access, but the bill still raises questions about fairness, collection practices, and the treatment of people with little or no income.