Data Source: Inquiries sent to state Departments of Corrections; 15 states did not respond to our January 2022 inquiry about updated policies. (Graph: Tiana Herring, 2022)

This graph originally appeared in COVID looks like it may stay. That means prison medical copays must go.

Our survey of all 50 state prison systems found that a handful of states have already returned to their pre-COVID-19 medical copay policies, disincentivizing people from seeking early and frequent medical care behind bars, despite the continued pandemic.