Little-Known Health Act Fact: Prison Inmates Are Signing Up:ObamaCare Prisoner Sign-Up

New York Times ^ | March 9, 2014 | Erica Goode

[lbryce]

In a little-noticed outcome of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, jails and prisons around the country are beginning to sign up inmates for health insurance under the law, taking advantage of the expansion of Medicaid that allows states to extend coverage to single and childless adults — a major part of the prison population.

State and counties are enrolling inmates for two main reasons. Although Medicaid does not cover standard health care for inmates, it can pay for their hospital stays beyond 24 hours — meaning states can transfer millions of dollars of obligations to the federal government.

But the most important benefit of the program, corrections officials say, is that inmates who are enrolled in Medicaid while in jail or prison can have coverage after they get out. People coming out of jail or prison have disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases, especially mental illness and addictive disorders. Few, however, have insurance, and many would qualify for Medicaid under the income test for the program — 138 percent of the poverty line — in the 25 states that have elected to expand their programs.

[Flick Lives]

State and counties are enrolling inmates for two main reasons. Although Medicaid does not cover standard health care for inmates, it can pay for their hospital stays beyond 24 hours — meaning states can transfer millions of dollars of obligations to the federal government.

Great. Just great. because everyone know the Federal Government is just flush with cash. (Remember when the country use to run 200+ billion dollar deficits and the press would scream bloody murder. Now that we run 1+ trillion deficits the MSM doesn't make a peep.)

[fso301]

I can’t fault state and local governments for shifting prisoner healthcare expenses to the feds.

[VTenigma]

I can’t wait until we get the bill for all this chaos.