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Bill

S 1757

An Act to remove medical and health service fees for incarcerated people

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pavel Payano

Bill eliminates all medical and healthcare service fees charged to Massachusetts incarcerated individuals, removing financial barriers to prison healthcare access.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · S 1757

Legislative bill overview

S 1757 proposes to eliminate all medical and health service fees charged to incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts correctional facilities. Currently, incarcerated people are assessed co-pays and charges for medical visits, medications, and health services. This bill would remove those financial barriers entirely.

Why is this important

Incarcerated individuals have constitutionally protected rights to adequate medical care, yet many avoid seeking treatment due to cost, potentially leading to untreated illness, disease spread, and deteriorating health outcomes. Healthcare access disparities in prisons contribute to higher rates of chronic disease and infectious illness compared to the general population. The removal of these fees directly affects thousands of people currently incarcerated across Massachusetts' state prison system.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Corrections departments rely partly on inmate fees to offset healthcare costs; eliminating this revenue stream shifts financial burden entirely to state budget with unclear cost estimates
  • Incentive concerns: Some argue that removing all fees may encourage frivolous medical visits or malingering, though evidence from other jurisdictions is mixed on this claim
  • Implementation complexity: Changes to billing systems and healthcare delivery protocols would require significant operational restructuring across multiple facilities
  • Equity debate: Whether the state should absorb costs for incarcerated populations when many low-income free citizens struggle with medical debt

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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