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State health officer cites prison‑health gaps, slight improvement in statewide health rankings
Summary
Dr. Edney told the committee the state has new responsibility to study health care for incarcerated people, flagged hepatitis C and maternal/infant outcomes as priorities and said the Department of Health may need greater oversight of correctional health facilities.
State Health Officer Dr. Edney told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee that the Department of Health has begun a statutory assignment to study and report on health care for people in state custody, describing the incarcerated population as “about 20,000 Mississippians” and raising concerns about hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections and high‑risk pregnancies behind prison walls.
Edney also briefed the committee on a release of the department’s public health report card, saying the state moved to 49th in overall health rankings and improved in maternal mortality to 45th, while infant mortality “remain[ed] 50th” in the most recent metrics. The health officer urged using population‑level public health…
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