Inmate health care costs have increased rapidly in recent years due to prison health system reforms and the increasing inmate population. Additionally, inmates frequently access health care services for secondary gains such as avoiding work. Factors such as grievance procedures and Department and Correctional Medical Authority reviews of inmate heath care create an environment that makes it easier to provide requested health services than to deny them. Consequently, inmates use health services more than private citizens.
Nevertheless, Florida's inmate health care costs have risen at a slower rate than overall medical inflation and are comparable to those for private citizens. Florida has initiated several cost-containment efforts that have saved and/or recovered about $16 million annually.
Proposed Department initiatives, combined with additional Department actions can reduce or contain inmate health care costs by at least $4.9 million annually.

Steps to Control Prison Inmate Health Care Costs Have Begun to Show Savings
Report 09-07 January 2009
Review of the Department of Corrections
Report 00-23 December 2000
Follow-Up Report on Inmate Health Services Within the Department of Corrections
Report 98-25 December 1998

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.