Understanding West Valley's $3 medical co-pay and 24/7 health services
If your loved one is at West Valley Detention Center, here's something worth knowing: there's a small co-pay for certain medical requests, but care is still available around the clock. Let's break down how the $3 fee works, what counts as a "self-initiated" request, and what services are available 24/7.
West Valley Detention Center charges a $3.00 co-payment when an inmate makes a self-initiated request for health services. The fee gets deducted from their account. Here's what families often miss: follow-up visits don't trigger another charge. Once that initial request is in the system, additional appointments related to the same issue won't cost another $3.
A "self-initiated request" means the inmate asks to see medical staff through the normal request process - not an emergency situation where staff respond on their own. If there's a healthcare emergency, the rule is straightforward: notify any staff member immediately. Emergencies are handled as urgent situations, separate from routine requests.
- ✓ Turning in a sick-call request to be seen for a non-urgent problem
- ✓ Asking to see medical staff about a lingering issue that isn’t an emergency
- ✓ Requesting help for a new symptom that needs evaluation but doesn’t require immediate emergency response
West Valley staffs health professionals around the clock. Medical needs don't follow a schedule - especially for people who arrive with existing conditions or develop symptoms after booking. Mental health care is also available 24 hours a day, with services designed to support and treat individuals with psychiatric illness.
- ✓ Daily physician sick call
- ✓ Medication administration
- ✓ Dialysis
- ✓ Radiology services
- ✓ Dental care
- ✓ Psychiatric care
Note: For healthcare emergencies, your loved one should notify any staff member immediately. Health professionals are on duty 24/7 - help is available at any hour.
When the $3 co-pay applies, it's deducted directly from the inmate's account. They don't pay at the clinic door - West Valley pulls the fee from their funds on file when the request is self-initiated.
Good to know: West Valley's policy states that an inmate will not be denied health care due to inability to pay the $3.00 co-payment.
- Plan for the $3 deduction (when you can) - Self-initiated health service requests trigger a $3.00 deduction from the inmate’s account, so keeping funds available can reduce stress for routine requests.
- Don’t let the fee stop you from pushing for care - The facility states that inability to pay will not result in denial of health care.
- Treat emergencies as emergencies - If your loved one describes a healthcare emergency, remind them to immediately notify any staff member for assistance.
- Use the right expectations when you advocate - West Valley has health professionals on duty 24/7 and offers services that include daily physician sick call, medication administration, dialysis, radiology, dental care, and psychiatric care. When you’re raising a concern, it helps to be clear about what they’re asking for (routine sick call vs. urgent help).
Reminder: Even if your loved one has no money in their account, West Valley's policy says they won't be denied health care because they can't pay the $3 co-pay.
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