Medical & Mental Health in Pennsylvania (PADOC)

Key info

Health care is delivered by a contracted private provider working alongside PADOC staff. As of 2025 the contractor is Wellpath. The contractor can change, so confirm the current provider.

There is a $5.00 co-pay for a medical visit the incarcerated person initiates, under PADOC policy DC-ADM 820. There is no co-pay for staff-ordered care or emergencies.

The grievance process has three steps under PADOC policy DC-ADM 804, ending with a final appeal to the Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals (SOIGA). All three steps must be completed before a federal lawsuit.

An independent organization may inspect Pennsylvania prisons — the Pennsylvania Prison Society, which has statutory “official visitor” authority to enter any state or county prison and privately interview incarcerated people.

Health care and the co-pay

Health care inside PADOC is delivered through a contracted private medical provider working alongside department staff. As of 2025 the contractor is Wellpath. Because the contract can be re-bid, the company providing care can change over time; confirm the current provider.

Under PADOC policy DC-ADM 820 (“Co-Payment for Medical Services”), an incarcerated person who initiates a medical visit pays a $5.00 co-pay.

The grievance process

Under PADOC policy DC-ADM 804 (“Inmate Grievance System”), the grievance procedure has three steps:

Initial grievance. The person files a grievance with the Facility Grievance Coordinator at the prison.
Appeal to the Facility Manager. If unresolved, the person appeals to the Facility Manager.
Final appeal to SOIGA. The person may make a final appeal to the Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals (SOIGA).

All three steps must be completed (exhausted) before a person can file a federal lawsuit over the same issue.

Independent oversight

The Pennsylvania Prison Society is a non-governmental organization with statutory “official visitor” authority to enter any state or county prison and privately interview incarcerated people. It functions as the state’s de facto prison ombudsman.

Verify Before Acting

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.