Bill Overview
Title: Federal Bureau of Prisons Medical Care Act of 2022
Description: This bill limits the circumstances under which the Bureau of Prisons may assess a fee for health care services provided to a prisoner.
Sponsors: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People incarcerated in federal prisons
Estimated Size: 170000
- The legislation pertains specifically to prisoners, so the target population is individuals incarcerated in federal prisons.
- The impact is directly on the financial burden of healthcare services for prisoners, potentially improving their access to medical care.
- Given that the U.S. is the focus of this bill, it particularly affects prisoners within the Federal Bureau of Prisons system, which is under U.S. jurisdiction.
Reasoning
- The target population are prisoners in federal institutions, which number around 170,000 according to the American estimates.
- The policy will mostly affect inmates who frequently utilize medical services, as it changes the cost structure for them.
- The financial relief may indirectly improve mental health as well as physical health by reducing the burden of worrying about healthcare costs.
- Because financial resources are limited to $50,000,000 in the first year, the scope of impact is confined to a fraction of the federal prison population.
- The range of interviews includes both affected and unaffected individuals to simulate a realistic cross-section of impacts.
- Prisoners' background and pre-existing conditions can heavily influence how much benefit they derive from the policy change.
Simulated Interviews
Inmate (Federal Prison, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Healthcare fees are a big worry for me, even in prison.
- This bill might help alleviate some financial concerns by reducing fees.
- I think this could lead to better overall health by allowing easier access to necessary medication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, California)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't needed much medical care, so I'm not sure how much this bill will affect me.
- It seems like a good thing for those who do have health issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health services are costly, even behind bars.
- If fees are lower, I could attend more sessions and improve my wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, New York)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had to prioritize my payments and sometimes I skip medications due to cost.
- This relief could mean better, more regular medication and longer lifespan.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Illinois)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not having to pay for every mental health visit would be a huge relief.
- This change could help decrease my anxiety levels.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Colorado)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dialysis costs are a constant concern for me.
- This policy could finally let me manage the costs better and ease some of my stresses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Georgia)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cost of cancer treatment is staggering and unpredictable.
- If I can reduce at least part of these costs, it might allow me to focus better on treatment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 0 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Pennsylvania)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't foresee the policy affecting me directly since my health needs are minimal.
- However, others I know may find it quite beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Arizona)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If healthcare costs decrease, that extra money can help support my family from inside, albeit limited.
- The policy won’t change my immediate situation, but could be helpful eventually.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Inmate (Federal Prison, Ohio)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The financial aspect of healthcare behind bars is seldom talked about.
- This bill would mean I could manage better financially and possibly get more consistent treatments for my conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $30600000, High: $71400000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $31212000, High: $72828000)
Year 5: $55000000 (Low: $33000000, High: $77000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $36000000, High: $84000000)
Year 100: $70000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $98000000)
Key Considerations
- The potential increase in the utilization of healthcare services by inmates due to the removal of fees.
- The cost-saving potential from reduced long-term healthcare needs and administrative expenses.
- The legal framework governing inmate rights to healthcare and the ethical considerations therein.