Medical & Mental Health in Massachusetts (MA DOC)

Key info

Medical, dental, and mental-health care is delivered by a contracted health-services vendor working with the MA DOC. As of this writing the contractor is VitalCore Health Strategies, which took over in 2024. This is a recent transition and the contractor can change, so confirm the current provider with the MA DOC.

Clinical services at Bridgewater State Hospital and at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) are provided separately, by a different contractor (Recovery Solutions), because those are specialized treatment facilities.

Routine care starts with a sick-call / health-services request, which is triaged by health staff.

A co-pay may apply to some visits. The current amount is not confirmed; confirm whether a co-pay applies, and the amount, with the MA DOC or the facility.

The MA DOC has an inmate grievance process for complaints about care. Separately, the DOC Office of the Ombudsman is an independent health-and-wellness advisor that reviews concerns.

These procedures apply across every Massachusetts state prison.

Who provides care

Medical, dental, and mental-health care inside MA DOC prisons is delivered through a contracted health-services vendor working with the department. As of this writing the contractor is VitalCore Health Strategies, which took over in 2024, replacing the prior contractor (Wellpath).

Specialized treatment facilities

Two facilities are an exception to the general arrangement. Clinical services at Bridgewater State Hospital and at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) are provided separately, by a different contractor (Recovery Solutions), because those are specialized treatment facilities rather than general-population prisons.

Requesting care and the services provided

A person accesses routine care by submitting a sick-call / health-services request, which is triaged by health staff. Available care includes:

sick call
chronic-care management
emergency care
medication management
mental-health care

Co-pay

A co-pay may apply to some health-services visits.

The grievance process and the Office of the Ombudsman

The MA DOC has an inmate grievance process for complaints about care. A person who believes a medical need was not addressed can raise it through that process. The specific steps and deadlines are set by MA DOC policy; confirm the current procedure with the facility or the MA DOC.

Separately, the DOC Office of the Ombudsman is an independent health-and-wellness advisor that reports to the state public-safety secretariat and reviews concerns about care. It operates apart from the standard grievance process.

Emergencies and family contact

A family member cannot authorize or arrange treatment. In a medical emergency, the prison arranges care and, if needed, transport to a community hospital.

For an urgent concern, families typically contact the facility directly. Confirm the facility’s current process for handling such contacts.

Privacy

Medical information is protected. Staff may be limited in what they can share with family without the incarcerated person’s authorization.

Verify Before Acting

Medical, dental, and mental-health care in MA DOC prisons is delivered through a contracted health-services vendor (VitalCore Health Strategies as of this writing, following a 2024 transition), which can change — confirm the current provider with the MA DOC. Clinical services at Bridgewater State Hospital and the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) are provided separately by a different contractor (Recovery Solutions). Routine care begins with a sick-call / health-services request triaged by health staff; whether a co-pay applies, and its amount, is not confirmed here — verify with the MA DOC or the facility. The MA DOC has an inmate grievance process, and the DOC Office of the Ombudsman is an independent advisor that reviews concerns. In an emergency, the prison arranges care and any hospital transport; a family member cannot authorize treatment. The provider, co-pay, and procedures can change — confirm the current provider, whether a co-pay applies and its amount, the grievance steps, and the facility contact process with the MA DOC and the facility before relying on them.

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.