 Overview | Index | CMA Board & Subcommittees | Meeting Notices & Minutes Reports & Documents | Survey Process | Links | News | Contact Us Overview Our site is designed to provide information about our role in monitoring the health care delivery system in Florida's correctional institutions. To find out more about the CMA board and its activities, please visit the Meeting Minutes section. Evaluations of specific institutions are available under Reports and Documents. Follow the links below to find out more about CMA.
Facts about CMA The Correctional Medical Authority (CMA) was created in 1986 to give independent advice to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Department of Corrections on the conduct of health care and management of costs consistent with quality care. Among its statutory responsibilities, the CMA is required to employ health care providers and other medical personnel to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the health care system at each correctional system. The Court has viewed the resolution of the health care issue as a major CMA function in Florida. To that end, Judge Susan Black signed an order on December 11, 1990, relinquishing the physical health care survey function to the CMA. On July 24, 1992, mental health survey responsibilities were placed within purview of the CMA. Judge Susan Black signed an order on March 5, 1993, closing the Costello v. Singletary lawsuit and returning control of Florida’s prison system to the State. After more than 21 years of litigation, the State has disentangled itself from allegations that medical care for inmates does not meet acceptable constitutional standards. A strong and independent CMA continues to assume the responsibility assigned to it by the Court on March 5, 1993, monitoring, oversight, and health care direction of the DC health care system. Although the Florida Department of Health currently provides administrative support to the CMA, the CMA is not subject to control, supervision or direction by the DOH. Currently, health care professionals from organizations from throughout Florida participate in the CMA’s monitoring and oversight function. These persons and groups participate as advisory committee members and as members of survey teams evaluating the health care delivery system in Florida’s correctional institutions.
|