Medical & Mental Health in Alabama (ADOC)

Health care and the co-pay

Medical, dental, and mental-health care inside ADOC is delivered by a private contractor (as of 2026, NaphCare, which took over in May 2026); the company providing care has changed several times, but the rules are set by ADOC. Under Administrative Regulation 703, an inmate pays a $4 co-pay for a self-initiated medical, dental, or optometry visit. The co-pay does not apply to:

• mental-health and substance-abuse services,
• emergencies,
• pregnancy-related care,
• chronic-care and follow-up visits directed by staff,
• intake screening, and TB/communicable-disease testing.

An inmate who is indigent (generally under a set balance over the prior period) is not denied care for inability to pay; the charge may post as a negative balance instead. Confirm the current amount and exemptions, which can change.

Mental health and substance use

Mental-health and substance-use services are exempt from the co-pay. Medication-assisted treatment is limited and facility-dependent — confirm what is available at the specific prison. Conditions inside ADOC’s men’s prisons, including mental-health care and safety, are the subject of U.S. Department of Justice litigation (the United States sued Alabama in 2020 over violence and conditions); the case is ongoing.

Raising a health concern

There is no statewide family medical-complaint portal. A family member who is worried about someone’s care can call the facility’s Health Services Administrator or the prison’s main line, or contact ADOC’s central office at its main line, (334) 353-3883. Because of medical-privacy law, staff generally cannot share clinical details without the inmate’s written authorization. Concerns about sexual abuse or safety (PREA) can be reported by anyone, including family.

Grievances and oversight

ADOC has an inmate grievance process (Administrative Regulation 406), which is relatively new system-wide. Alabama has no independent prison ombudsman: a 2024 law created a limited Prison Oversight Coordinator within state government, and a 2026 bill (SB 316) to expand oversight was pending but had not passed. External accountability comes largely through the federal courts (the DOJ case) and the contractor’s own reporting.

Outside help

Family-support and advocacy organizations active in Alabama include Alabamians for Fair Justice, the Alabama Justice Initiative, and faith-based groups that work with prison families. These are independent of ADOC.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Know Your Rights.