A catch-all bill for health care policies in the Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities made its way through the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 29. If it is approved, the proposed bill, HB 5567 or “ An Act Concerning Health Care in the Department of Correction Facilities,” will implement sweeping changes to health care policies and services in the DOC—and will impose restrictions on Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests.
Among the many provisions of the bill are several addressing providing health care to incarcerated people at DOC facilities. This includes expanding the number of medical professionals working at these facilities, which include physicians, therapists, mental health care providers, and nurses, and creating explicit guidelines concerning medical services for incarcerated individuals.
The specifics of the services provided at these facilities are confidential.
The proposed bill states, “the details of the communications and the Correction Ombuds’ findings shall be confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act… and shall not be disclosed without the consent of such person.”
There are a few exceptions: the Correction Ombuds can share information that is a part of general findings or policy recommendations without a patients consent if identifying information is scrubbed from the documents, and information can be disclosed to the Commissioner of Correction “immediately” if the communications concern physical threats made against anyone, including the patient, a member of the public, an incarcerated person or a DOC employee.
The most recent audit of the DOC, which was published in July, 2025, found that inmates were given medication in an “untimely” fashion.
In January, DOC Commissioner Angel Quiros and DOC Head of Health Services Robert Richardson testified in front of the Government Oversight and Judiciary Committee. Although most of that testimony focused on how overtime payments were managed, Richardson did report that since the audit didn’t specify which types of medications were missed, the department does not know the specific health impacts caused by the mismanagement.
HB 5567 calls for the creation of a Correction Patient Advocate with at least five years of senior health care leadership and either a master’s degree in health care administration or a medical degree.
“Said advocate shall assist persons who are incarcerated with matters relating to access to medical care, medication management, continuity of care and patient rights.”
Last year, a bill was introduced that would have limited how complaints against police officers could be shared in FOI requests. This bill would have prevented the disclosure of information about complaints filed against officers in FOI requests until the investigations were complete. It made it through the Senate, but it was never voted on in the House.
HB 5567 was added to the Senate calendar on Thursday, April 30, but was not discussed that day. The next Senate session is scheduled for May 1.
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