BOP Program Statement 6400.03 § 6

a. General Population

(1) Method. Access to care must be equitable. Comprehensive dental care may be requested by

submitting an Inmate Request to Staff (BP-A0148) form, or any other means authorized by local

policy and procedures. Provided the inmate is eligible for care, the date that the initial request is

received is used as the entered date on the EMR “Dental Routine Treatment List”. This date

follows the inmate from one facility to another as part of a national wait list. Local institutions

do not maintain paper or other electronic wait lists. Inmates must be on the waiting list for care

and care will be provided in chronological order; i.e., those waiting the longest will be seen first.

Institutions will provide access to comprehensive care for eligible inmates as resources and staff

are available.

(2) Failed Appointments. Inmate patients may be removed from the dental routine treatment

list after two unexcused absences within a 6-month period. It is the dental staff’s responsibilit

to follow the institution’s securit procedures for “no show” appointments. All inmate “no

shows” will require an entry into the health record documenting the absence and action taken.

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(3) Inmate Release. Medical Records will notify Dental Services of inmates who will be

released from BOP custody in any manner (Full Term Release, to a halfway house, etc.). Dental

Services should ensure that inmates are removed from the routine treatment list. An inmate

returning from a halfway house placement or writ may request to have his/her status on the

comprehensive dental care list reactivated. If an inmate returns to BOP custody (either as a

violation or new commitment), the inmate can submit a new request for comprehensive dental

care and will be added to the waiting list based on this new date.

(4) Intra-system (BOP to BOP) Transfers. Medical Records staff will notify medical and

dental services of new commitments and transfers who need A&O examinations. This should

include inmates transferring in from privately managed correctional facilities. Medical records

or other medical support staff may schedule those inmates who have not had a previous A&O for

the current commitment for the dentist’s A&O exam.

Inmates transferring to a new institution will be seen according to their status on the EMR

National Waiting List. The CDO reviews the inmate’s previous treatment record and

appointments. Treatment is continued per the receivin dentist’s updated recommendations and

dental schedule.

Dentists at the receiving institution must reconcile any previously ordered dental consultations

for transferring inmates. This reconciliation must be done periodically to ensure that necessary

care is continued.

The dentist will use a medical hold and advise the inmate if prosthetic or other time-sensitive

care has been started and cannot be completed prior to release either to another institution or to a

halfway house.

(5) Medical Co-morbidities. In rare medical circumstances the CDO or Clinical Director may

reprioritize dental treatment for inmates requiring close medical supervision. This may require

exemption from established wait list procedures. All medical justifications should be

documented in EMR with an accompanying consultation.

b. Eligibility based on Designation. Since institutions vary in regard to mission and security

level, local provisions can be described in the Institution Supplement. All inmates are entitled to

sick call/urgent care.

The dental staff will coordinate with correctional services staff. Inmates will be escorted to

the dental clinic by correctional services staff for the management of timely appointments

and continuing comprehensive care.

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(1) Pretrial. At the end of 12 months, pretrial inmates are eligible to receive comprehensive

care and can then request to be put on the national waiting list. In rare cases, exceptions will be

made on a case-by-case basis, with the advance approval of the Regional Chief Dentist.

(2) Short-Term Detention. Comprehensive dental care may be delayed due to short-term

temporary detention placements. If an inmate scheduled for comprehensive dental care misses

an appointment because of a short-term placement in special housing, he/she resumes being

scheduled after returning to general population.

(3) Long-Term Detention. Inmates detained in segregation, special housing, or jail units for 12

months or less have access to dental triage/sick call and urgent care. Health care staff assigned

to these areas will notify dental services of urgent cases requiring evaluation. Inmates who have

been detained for longer than 12 months will be eligible for comprehensive dental care. Inmates

permanently designated in long-term, high security units (e.g., ADX) will be eligible for

comprehensive dental care in accordance with the National Dental Wait List.

(4) BOP General Population Inmates. All permanently designated inmates are eligible for

comprehensive dental care. This includes inmates designated to detention, jail, and contract

facilities. Inmates designated to community corrections facilities (Residential Reentry Centers)

are eligibile for emergency care only.