(a) Inpatient care.--A health care provider who provides inpatient care to an inmate shall not charge the State or county correctional institution or its medical services contractor more than the maximum allowable rate payable for the goods, services and supplies under the medical assistance program. This subsection shall include goods and services furnished by the health care provider to the inmate, including the cost of medications and prescription drugs.

(b) Outpatient care.--A health care provider who provides outpatient care to an inmate shall not charge the State or county correctional institution or its medical services contractor more than the maximum allowable rate payable for goods, services and supplies under the Medicare program. This subsection includes goods and services furnished by the health care provider to the inmate, including the cost of medications and prescription drugs.

(c) Limitation.--Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent a health care provider from contracting with a correctional institution to provide outpatient care to inmates at rates higher than those established by this article.