Florida’s prison system is facing financial challenges as a result of increased health-care costs. Court mandates require better treatment for inmates with Hepatitis C, mental illnesses and disabilities. Those issues, mixed with an aging prison population are driving up health costs. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is proposing a 120 million dollar increase to cover inmates’ health care as part of a 2.7 billion dollar Department of Corrections funding plan that is about 3 percent of the entire budget, includes $14 million for increased costs of pharmaceuticals. DeSantis has also directed Corrections Secretary Mark Inch to explore various strategies to drive down pharmaceutical costs.