Mississippi Department of Corrections
Christopher B. Epps
Phil Bryant
Commissioner
Governor
MDOC Healthcare Services
It is the goal of MDOC for all inmates to receive timely, quality, consistent health care as defined by MDOC in conjunction with our contracted healthcare vendor (Wexford Health Sources, Inc.) in keeping with ACA (American Correctional Association) and NCCHC (National Commission on Correctional Health Care) guidelines. Chief Medical Officer Gloria Perry oversees the Medical division.
Institutions:
The Mississippi Department of Corrections has contracted with Wexford Health Sources, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to provide comprehensive onsite healthcare services (i.e medical, dental and mental health) to offenders at the following correctional facilities:
- Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP) located in Parchman, MS
- Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) located in Pearl, MS
- South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) located at Leakesville, MS
- 15 County Regional Correctional facilities
- 17 Community Work Centers
- Governor’s mansion
The MDOC Chief Medical Officer in the Office of Medical Compliance (OMC) is responsible for oversight and contract compliance at these sites. The OMC is also responsible for coordination of specialty care and hospitalization of all inmates sentenced to MDOC.
Private Facilities:
Offenders at private correctional facilities (not state-run) are provided health care through that facility’s contracted medical provider. These facilities are the
- East Mississippi Correctional Facility (EMCF) – Meridian, MS
- Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility (WGYCF) – Walnut Grove, MS
- Marshall County Correctional Facility (MCCF) – Holly Springs, MS
- Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) – Woodville, MS
I Health Care issues:
It is the policy of the Mississippi Department of Corrections that all medical decisions pertaining to the medical, dental, and mental health treatment of patients/offenders are to be left to the individual treating providers.
In the event an inmate has a question, problem, or complaint with medical services, we strongly suggest that the inmate make this known immediately to the medical staff at his or her facility. For FAQ regarding medical services, Click Here.
If the concern or complaint cannot be resolved by this informal basis, the inmate is advised to make a written request to enter the Administrative Remedy Program (A.R.P.), so this matter can be addressed through the proper channels.
Medical Records:
MDOC medical records of incarcerated inmates may be released by court order. MDOC medical records of released or deceased inmates may be released to a designated attorney, physician, and State or Federal agency upon written request on official letterhead accompanied by an appropriately executed authorization. Send requests to the following:
Mississippi Dept. of Corrections
Office of Medical Compliance
Central Health Records Manager
723 N President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 359-5764
For a copy of MDOC Authorization Medical Records Release Form, Click Here.
Hospitalization:
At times it may be medically necessary for MDOC inmates at any of the institutions (including Private Facilities) to be hospitalized and/or receive medical treatment at local or tertiary medical centers. For security reasons and to comply with Federal medical privacy laws, MDOC cannot comment regarding any particular hospitalized inmate’s location, site of hospital admission, medical condition, or status.
Please do not call MDOC and request this information, as it cannot be provided.
Conditional Medical Release:
Mississippi Code Annotated § 47-7-4 permits inmates with serious medical conditions to be transferred, under certain conditions, to the Division of Community Corrections.
The Commissioner and the Chief Medical Director of the department may place a nonviolent offender on conditional medical release regardless of time served. Violent offenders must serve at least one (1) year of their sentence before being eligible for conditional medical release. Offenders convicted of a sex crime are not eligible for conditional medical release. The Commissioner will not place an offender on conditional medical release unless the Chief Medical Officer of the department certifies to the Commissioner that (a) the offender is suffering from a significant permanent physical medical condition with no possibility of recovery; (b) that his further incarceration will serve no rehabilitative purposes; and (c) that the state would incur unreasonable expenses as a result of his continued incarceration. Any offender placed on conditional medical release shall be supervised by the Division of Community Corrections of the department for the remainder of his sentence. An offender's conditional medical release may be revoked and the offender returned and placed in actual custody of the department if the offender violates an order or condition of his conditional medical release.
Examples of such conditions would be, but are not limited to:
- cancer diagnosis appropriate for hospice care
- end-stage lung disease
- end-stage (New York Heart Association Class IV) heart failure
- severe stroke with disabling neurologic manifestations
- end-stage liver disease (Childs-Pugh Class III)
- end-stage AIDS
- advanced alzheimers disease
- severe, progressive neurological disease, including paraplegia, quadriplegia
Medical conditions or diseases that are chronic, but stable, and are being addressed by ongoing medical intervention or therapy are not considered to be “significant permanent physical medical conditions” and are not eligible for conditional medical release.
Consideration:
Determination of eligibility for Conditional Medical Release shall be the responsibility of the inmate’s treating physician. If, in the opinion of the treating physician, the offender would be medically-eligible for conditional medical release, the treating physician shall communicate this to the MDOC Chief Medical Officer.