Medicaid's evolving role in advancing the health of people involved in the justice system

Medicaid's evolving role in advancing the health of people involved in the justice system

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Issue brief (Commonwealth Fund)
Author(s):
Camhi, Natasha, author
Mistak, Dan, author
Wachino, Vikki, author
Contributor(s):
Commonwealth Fund, issuing body.
Publication:
[New York, New York] : The Commonwealth Fund, November 2020
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Criminal Law
Medicaid
Prisoners
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
ISSUE. Individuals who are incarcerated or otherwise involved with the criminal justice system (justice-involved people) face significant health challenges, including high rates of COVID-19. GOAL. To describe the health needs of justice-involved populations, explain how Medicaid meets those needs, and identify policy changes that could strengthen Medicaid's role as a tool to improve health outcomes in this population. KEY FINDINGS. State and local governments are developing new Medicaid approaches to meet the health needs of justice-involved people, particularly as they are leaving incarceration. However, siloes between correctional and community health care providers disrupt care coordination and create gaps in treatment and health services that can be life-threatening. Medicaid policy contributes to these siloes because Medicaid cannot cover services provided to incarcerated people. New policies are being considered to allow Medicaid coverage of some services provided during incarceration to improve coordination, access, and health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. The concurrent COVID-19, substance abuse, and mental health crises, as well as growing awareness of racial inequities, are prompting state and federal interest in examining the role of public programs, such as Medicaid, in meeting the needs of the justice-involved population.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (12 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
101774874 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101774874