Correctional Medical Authority

Correctional Medical Authority (CMA)
400 South Monroe Street, the Capitol, Suite 705
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Main Line: (850) 841-8430
Fax: (850) 410-0390
E-mail: CMA@flhealth.gov

Mission Statement

The mission of the Correctional Medical Authority is to monitor and promote delivery of cost-effective health care that meets accepted community standards to inmates in the Florida Department of Corrections.

History

The Correctional Medical Authority (CMA) was created by the Florida legislature in 1986 and the statutory structure creating, governing, and empowering the CMA is found in Chapter 945 at section 945.601, F.S., through section 945.6036, F.S.

Several key events led to the creation of the CMA, beginning with a 1972 Federal lawsuit filed by Florida inmates alleging inadequate medical care and overcrowding; known as the Costello lawsuit. As a result of the Costello case, the Federal courts appointed special monitors to the Florida prison system until 1986 when the CMA was created and began conducting these monitoring functions under the court’s supervision.

By 1993, the CMA was responsible for the oversight and monitoring of all physical and mental health care within the prison system. Another lawsuit in 1999, known as the Osterback case, which alleged among other things that placement of inmate in restricted housing units, known as “close management”, exacerbated symptoms of mental illness, led to a settlement agreement that required the CMA to monitor close management as well.

In 2011, the CMA was not funded by the Legislature but was funded again in 2012 as part of the executive branch of the Florida government. We are currently housed within the administrative structure of the Executive Office of the Governor as an independent state agency.

Purpose and Structure

The CMA’s purpose is to assist in the delivery of health care services for inmates in the Department of Corrections (DOC) by advising the Secretary of Corrections of the professional conduct of primary, convalescent, dental, and mental health care and the management of cost consistent with quality care. This is carried out by advising the Governor and Legislature on the status of the DOC’s health care delivery system, and by assuring that adequate standards of care of being maintained through a triennial survey process.

The CMA is composed of a seven member, volunteer board whose members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate for a term of four years. The staff consists of six full time employees who utilize independent contractors to complete health care surveys at each Florida prison every three years. Survey reports are followed by monitoring of corrective action plans by the CMA until the facilities are in compliance with accepted community standards.

Board Members

Peter C. Debelius-Enemark, MD
Chair

Katherine E. Langston, MD
Representative, Florida Medical Association

Kris-Tena Albers, ARNP
Representative, Nursing

Richard Huot, DDS
Representative, Dentistry

Ryan D. Beaty
Representative, Florida Hospital Association

Lee B. Chaykin
Representative, Healthcare Administration

Leigh-Ann Cuddy, MS
Representative, Mental Health