Bill > HB1474

This bill requires the Mississippi Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive review of medical care provided to inmates in the Department of Corrections, with far-reaching implications for inmate healthcare. The review, to be completed by July 1, 2026, will involve examining medical records, accessing correctional facilities, interviewing medical staff, and evaluating patient outcomes and healthcare access. The bill also introduces several significant healthcare improvements for inmates, including prohibiting charges for healthcare services, establishing communal electronic kiosks for medical appointment requests, ensuring 24-hour nursing staff at each facility, mandating proper medication dispensation, and requiring the employment of a licensed dietician across all correctional facilities. Additionally, the Department of Health must develop a specific plan for improving female inmates' health and help establish a Hepatitis C program. The review will result in a detailed report with recommendations submitted to key state leadership, followed by a one-year follow-up review to assess implemented changes. The bill emphasizes transparency, inmate healthcare access, and systemic improvements in correctional healthcare services, with provisions set to expire on July 1, 2027.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1474.xml