{"id":48741,"date":"2021-02-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcity.org\/daily\/entry\/how-the-affordable-care-act-can-keep-people-out-of-prison"},"modified":"2021-02-22T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T11:00:00","slug":"how-the-affordable-care-act-can-keep-people-out-of-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/02\/22\/how-the-affordable-care-act-can-keep-people-out-of-prison\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Affordable Care Act Can Keep People out of Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t

In this 2017 photo, a woman looks through her personal scrapbook at The Pavilions, a residential re-entry program in Los Lunas, New Mexico, where she received treatment after her release from prison. (AP Photo\/Eric Draper)<\/p><\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Many former inmates struggle with mental health and substance use disorders<\/a>. Appropriate treatment for these illnesses can be what stands between successfully reintegrating into society and returning to a life of crime \u2013 and ultimately back to prison.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n

We are scholars<\/a> who study the implications<\/a> of health insurance reform<\/a> for criminal recidivism<\/a>. In our recent paper, we found that increasing access to Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act increases criminal justice referrals to addiction treatment and reduces violent crime recidivism<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

By the numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

More than half \u2013 58%<\/a> \u2013 of state prisoners and at least 40%<\/a> of federal inmates abuse drugs. Among these prisoners, only 40% of women and 50% of men<\/a> participate in drug treatment programs when admitted.<\/p>\n\n

Eight to 10 months after release, the percentage of former inmates receiving treatment for substance use disorder is even lower \u2013 dropping to 25%<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Many are not eligible for Medicaid, the federal program that provides health care to low-income people and those with disabilities. And there are still 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage<\/a> to low-income adults. Lack of treatment for their substance use disorder often lands them back in prison.<\/p>\n\n

The Bureau of Justice Statistics<\/a> tracked over 400,000 released prisoners in 2005. Over 103,000 of them had committed a violent offense and about 51,000 were involved in a public-order crime. Violent crimes range from murder and rape to blackmail or intimidation, while public-order crimes include rioting, public drunkenness and vice offenses, among others.<\/p>\n\n

More than two-thirds of the 400,000 were rearrested within three years of being released from prison. About 40% of released prisoners for violent and public-order crimes were rearrested within a year. About 30%<\/a> of returning inmates report recent use of illegal drugs.<\/p>\n\n

The best treatments for substance use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine<\/a> as well as cognitive behavioral therapy<\/a>, are expensive. This makes them essentially unaffordable for those without health insurance. Based on preliminary cost estimates<\/a>, for example, methadone treatment that includes medication and integrated psychosocial and medical support services would cost US$126 per week, or $6,552 per year based on daily visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t