BJA FY 14 Maximizing the Affordable Care Act: Improving Recidivism and Health Outcomes for the Justice-Involved Population
Because of the Medicaid expansion to childless adults and the subsidies to make private health insurance more affordable under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a significant portion of the justice-involved population will gain eligibility, for the first time, for Medicaid and/or private health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Justice-involved individuals are seven times as likely as the general population to experience mental illness, substance abuse disorders, infectious disease, and chronic health conditions, making reentry from jails and prison an especially critical juncture. For individuals reentering communities after incarceration, disruptions in medical care and treatment contribute to increased rates of reincarceration, increased drug use, and poor and costly health outcomes, including a 12-fold increase in the risk of death in the first 2 weeks after release. State and local criminal justice systems can play an important role in ensuring justice-involved populations receive assistance and support in applying for health coverage, which can help divert individuals from the criminal justice system, reduce recidivism, and also provide a continuum of care for individuals preparing to reenter back into their communities. This solicitation seeks a national training and technical assistance provider to assist select state and local criminal justice systems in maximizing the opportunities for expanded health care coverage under the PPACA, as well as develop resources to assist the broader criminal justice field nationwide. As a result of improved coverage, state and local justice systems may experience considerable cost savings by utilizing expanded coverage options under Medicaid and the Marketplace.
Office: Office of Justice Programs
