Ohio moves to enroll prisoners in Medicaid

Ohio is one of 11 states that have begun working to enroll prisoners into Medicaid when they get sick or as they are released, a move that could save the state nearly $18 million this year by shifting health costs to the federal government (Source: “Ohio pushing prisoners to Medicaid,” Mansfield News Journal, Feb. 18, 2014).

Prison officials and advocates also say that increased enrollment in health coverage could eventually reduce recividism rates as more ex-prisoners gain access to needed mental health services and substance abuse programs.

 “It is a huge benefit for the state and for the individuals because they’ll have a continuum of care and we can link them with the benefits they need,” said Stuart Hudson, managing director of health care for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

According to the Medicaid expansion study conducted last year by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and Ohio State University, by 2022, the state savings could be as high as $34 million a year.