Jails Enroll Inmates in Obamacare to Pass Hospital Costs to U.S.

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-06/jails-enroll-inmates-in-obamacare-to-pass-hospital-costs-to-u-s-.html


Being arrested in Chicago for, say, drug possession or assault gets you sent to the Cook County Jail to be fingerprinted, photographed and X-rayed. You’ll also get help applying for health insurance.

At least six states and counties from Maryland to Oregon’s Multnomah are getting inmates coverage under Obamacare and its expansion of Medicaid, the federal and state health-care program for the poor. The fledgling movement would shift to the federal government some of the more than $6.5 billion in annual state costs for treating prisoners. Proponents say it also will make recidivism rarer, because inmates released with coverage are more likely to get treatment for mental illness, substance abuse and other conditions that can lead them to crime.

“When someone gets discharged from the jail and they don’t have insurance and they don’t have a plan, we can pretty much set our watch to when we’re going see them again,” said Ben Breit, a spokesman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

The still-small programs could reach a vast population: At the end of 2012, almost 7 million people in the U.S. were on parole, probation, in prison or locked up in jail, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. About 13 million people are booked into county jails each year, according to the Washington-based National Association of Counties.

[mucifer]

1. That's good. Hopefully less people will be jailed for being poor.

So much more has to be done. But, that is something.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. They are inmates. Anyway you do it, their healthcare is paid for with taxpayer dollars...

Whether if by county, state or federal tax dollars, it reall y doesnt matter.

[mucifer]

4. What matters is when they get out. If the jail or prison helps them apply, unless the

laws change, they have health care when they are out of jail or prison. The hope is that some might not return to jail. The thought behind this is that there are some people who go to jail because they are ill and want medical attention. If this is the case it is financially much cheaper to provide insurance for the people than pay for jail AND healthcare.

[NCTraveler]

3. When they go to jail, it is the states responsibility to care for their health.

As long as these individuals are getting a fully subsidized premium, this looks like a good thing. The system has to be about these people not landing themselves back in jail. That is not what it currently is. Them having access to health care immediately when they get out of jail is a good thing. Now if they get out of jail, are strapped with a premium or can't afford the copay, it is nothing more than a shady operation by the state/private prisons themselves. Universal health care for all helps in every segment of society. It is bad for no one.

[okaawhatever]

5. I wish the states were still responsible for some reimbursement. While I agree with the concept,

it's not fair for the states to transfer the cost from state taxes to the federal government.

[mucifer]

6. I think most of the people will qualify for a very low or no copay

But, I guess for some the copay could be a huge problem.

[DURHAM D]

7. If the inmates are in a for-profit private facility

and are enrolled in medicaid the jail owners should be required to lower their charges to the state or county.

[pinto]

8. I like this approach, would go one step further - linkage for post incarceration follow up.

Not only help get uninsured inmates insured, help them with linkage to appropriate, affordable follow-up post incarceration. Especially for those who have chronic conditions or are medically / mentally fragile.