Pennsylvania House Bill HB2297

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/18/26

Caption

In medical services, further providing for Medical Services Program.

Summary

HB2297 amends Pennsylvania’s prison medical services law to cap the fee that may be charged to an inmate for nonemergency medical services requested by the inmate at no more than $1. The bill keeps the existing framework that allows the Department of Corrections to charge fees for certain inmate medical services, but narrows that authority by imposing a specific statutory ceiling for requested nonemergency care. The bill also preserves the ability to charge inmates for medical services related to injuries they inflicted on themselves or on another inmate. In addition, it directs the Department of Corrections to update any rules and regulations that conflict with the new statutory language, including the prison medical services regulation in the Pennsylvania Code, within 180 days after the law takes effect. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

HB2297 would amend Title 61 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically the Medical Services Program for inmates, by adding a statutory limit on inmate medical copayments for nonemergency, inmate-requested care. It would require the Department of Corrections to conform its regulations to the new law, including 37 Pa. Code § 93.12, and would therefore affect prison medical billing practices, inmate access to care, and DOC administrative rules governing medical fees.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a policy preference for reducing inmate out-of-pocket charges for routine requested medical care while leaving intact fees tied to self-inflicted or inmate-on-inmate injuries.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the balance between limiting financial barriers to inmate healthcare and preserving correctional cost-recovery mechanisms. Supporters would likely view the $1 cap as a modest safeguard against discouraging inmates from seeking needed care, while critics may argue it reduces the department’s ability to deter unnecessary requests or offset medical costs. The retained authority to charge for self-inflicted or inmate-caused injuries suggests an effort to address concerns about accountability and abuse of the medical system.