Mississippi House approves bill for inmate Hepatitis C and HIV treatment program

Mississippi lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that could improve health care for inmates. The measure, which passed the House last week, requires the Mississippi Department of Health and the Mississippi Department of Corrections to develop a comprehensive health plan for inmates, including programs for Hepatitis C, HIV, and women’s health.

State Rep. Becky Currie, the bill’s author, emphasized the importance of acting now to prevent long-term costs associated with communicable diseases. She noted that grant funds could help cover medication costs. Currie cited a federal grant awarded to a rehabilitation center in Oxford that received $2.5 million for Hepatitis C treatment, questioning how the funds were utilized.

Currie criticized the current treatment efforts by VitalCore, the contracted medical provider for inmates, stating that only about 50 inmates with Hepatitis C are treated annually out of a population of over 5,000. She compared Mississippi’s situation to Louisiana’s Angola prison, which has secured federal grants to fully fund its medication program.

Currie added that Mississippi spends about $124 million annually on inmate medical contracts and believes there are ways to improve treatment without increasing costs. She also expressed concern over recent inmate deaths, suggesting that inadequate medical treatment may be a factor.

During committee discussions, Currie noted that the inmate intake process includes testing for communicable diseases, but she argued the current timeline for treatment is too slow—up to 14 days—to effectively address urgent health needs. She hopes the legislation will prompt revisions to the medical services contract to better serve inmates and prevent disease spread, which could ultimately save the state money.

The bill received unanimous support in the House and has been sent to the Senate for further consideration.

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