The House has passed a significant piece of legislation aimed at requiring the state Department of Health to undertake a thorough review of the health care services delivered to inmates within Mississippi’s correctional facilities.
This legislative measure underscores the concerns raised about the adequacy of health care in state prisons, where the Department of Corrections is in charge of its own healthcare provisions, which has led to issues such as inmates being denied essential medical treatments, lack of access to necessary medications, and being charged fees for care requests, as stated by House Corrections Chairwoman Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven.
During the summer, Currie visited various prisons across the state and discussed the medical challenges faced by the inmates. She discovered that the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) was not obligated to disclose information about its medical care practices or the health outcomes of prisoners.
“Upon my visits, I realized I was not receiving adequate information. So I decided to engage with the inmates directly,” Currie recounted. “The lack of oversight became glaringly apparent.”
Throughout her visits, several alarming issues came to light, including:
1. Female inmates were not receiving necessary screenings such as pap smears and mammograms.
2. In many cases, inmates were sent to classes or job programs before medical contractors arrived, hindering their access to crucial medications.
3. Inmates faced fees of $10 for a visit if they received medication and $6 if they did not, even in cases where they were unable to see a doctor, Currie noted.
4. There were occasions where medical staff were unavailable overnight; one case involved an inmate who suspected they were having a stroke, but the facility lacked a doctor, necessitating a costly $50,000 emergency helicopter transport for care.
5. The process for scheduling medical appointments was often informal and inadequate, leaving inmates without proper means to get the care they needed.
Currie’s proposed legislation aims to guarantee that all inmates receive medical care, irrespective of their financial capabilities to cover fees charged by prisons.
“Last year, we expended $109 million on prison healthcare, and this year that amount is projected to reach $119 million,” she stated. “Yet, we expect individuals without financial resources to pay for healthcare. This will change once the bill is enacted.”
The MDOC has yet to respond to inquiries regarding these issues.
Under Currie’s proposal, the Department of Health would gain the authority to assess the quality of healthcare in prisons, evaluate patient outcomes, and scrutiny of inmate access to medical professionals.
However, the bill’s fate remains uncertain, as Currie noted that Republican Governor Tate Reeves is leaning towards hiring an outside firm to conduct the review rather than utilizing the Department of Health.
“I believe the inclination is to keep matters contained within the system, which seems to be a poor decision,” Currie expressed.
According to Currie, the Department of Health possesses the necessary expertise and independence to assess issues within prisons and to devise actionable solutions.
Mississippi correctional facilities have come under federal scrutiny due to persistently poor conditions.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice released a comprehensive 60-page report accusing the state of Mississippi of breaching the constitutional rights of inmates in four facilities: the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, the South Mississippi Correctional Institution, and the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.
Within that report and prior investigations, the Justice Department highlighted the deficiencies in medical care provided to inmates in Mississippi.
Currently, the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility is facing an active federal lawsuit related to the exposure of inmates to hazardous chemicals, with claims that this has resulted in some individuals suffering from late-stage cancer. In response to such allegations, state lawmakers have put forth a bill requiring prisons to furnish protective gear to inmates engaged in work assignments.
The proposal from Currie is now poised to be reviewed by the Senate.
