The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73628

Henry Steadman, PhD¹, Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD², and Kathleen M. Dalton, MPA¹. (1) Policy Research Associates, Inc, 265 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054, 518-439-7415, hsteadman@prainc.com, (2) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste.302, Willowcrest Bldg., CB#3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3386

A major public policy debate exists about why there are numerous policies and practices employed by state Medicaid offices to disenroll recipients who are mentally disordered when they are arrested and incarcerated in local jails, when, in fact, federal guidelines require only suspension of submitting claims for federal reimbursement while incarcerated.

The underlying assumption of this debate is that without Medicaid or SSI, arrestees with mental disorders are unable to successfully reengage in community-based services. In turn, without the services, detainees stay longer in jail and when released, lack essential services, become public safety risks, and recidivate. While all of these assumptions are plausible, there is no empirical data to support them.

We report on a sample of nearly 2000 persons who were Medicaid enrollees between July 1998 and December 2000 and incarcerated in Pinellas County, FL. We determine how Medicaid status at jail entry and discharge is related to duration of incarceration, time to first community service, and volume and rates of service use in the first 90 days after each incarceration. The data permits assessment the true value of Medicaid and SSI for persons who regularly cycle between the mental health and criminal justice systems.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn the latest empirically-based support for an ongoing public policy debate on access to Medicaid-funded services for incarcerated mentally ill persons.

Keywords: Incarceration, Medicare/Medicaid

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.