Implications of the Federal Health Legislation on
Justice-Involved Populations*
In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)† and the Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act.‡ Together, these two laws are
commonly referred to as the PPACA, or colloquially as the “health
reform” law.§ The changes brought about by the health reform law
will have a significant impact on how people involved in the criminal
justice system can access public health insurance and services.
Most notably, the PPACA expands eligibility for Medicaid. Experts
have long recognized that expanding Medicaid eligibility and
improving access to treatment services will promote better public
and individual health outcomes and is likely to reduce state
expenditures.1 Individuals cycling through prisons and jails—many
of whom have significant health needs, but are not currently enrolled
in Medicaid—will soon be eligible for enrollment. Although the most
significant changes to Medicaid eligibility do not take effect until
2014 (or earlier, if a particular state opts to accelerate
implementation), state officials, including criminal justice system
officials, are now planning to put protocols in place in time to meet
the new federal requirements under the PPACA.

This paper’s lead author is
Barbara DiPietro, policy director for the
National Health Care for the Homeless
Council. Council of State Governments
Justice Center staff members Alexa
Eggleston, substance abuse and addiction
project director, and Dr. Fred Osher,
director of health systems and services
policy, advised on the project. The following
experts provided valuable reviews and
feedback: Dr. Robin Arnold-Williams, past
secretary of the Washington State
Department of Social and Health Services;
Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, director of
national policy, Legal Action Center; Kathy
McNamara, assistant director of clinical
affairs, National Association of Community
Health Centers; Dr. Roger H. Peters, chair
and professor, Department of Mental Health
Law and Policy, University of South Florida;
and Dr. Josiah Rich, co-director, The Center
for Prisoner Health and Human Rights.

This document addresses the implications of PPACA for justice-involved adults. It first considers
their needs and barriers to treatment. The sections that follow address how the health reform
legislation expands these adults’ eligibility for Medicaid and what services will be made available,
the requirements and exemptions specified by the legislation, and how enrollment will take place.**
This project was supported by Grant No. 2009-CZ-BX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of
Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs within the Department of Justice (DOJ). Points of view
or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the DOJ.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance reserves the right to reproduce, publish, translate, or otherwise use and to authorize
others to publish and use all or any part of the copyrighted material contained in this publication.
*

Public Law 111-148.
Public Law 111-152.
§ A consolidated version of the two laws can be found at http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf.
**The points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official
position or policies of the Council of State Governments’ members. While every effort was made to reach consensus
among advisory group members’ and other reviewers’ recommendations, individual opinions may differ from the
statements made in the document.
†
‡

Suggested citation: DiPietro, Barbara. Frequently Asked Questions: Implications of the Federal Legislation on Justice Involved
Populations. New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2011.
© 2011 by the Council of State Governments Justice Center
All rights reserved. Published 2011. Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York, 10005

1

What are the health needs of incarcerated people?
Individuals in the criminal justice system have disproportionately high rates of chronic disease and
behavioral health disorders when compared to the general population. In a study of individuals
newly released from U.S. prisons, one-half of men and two-thirds of women had been diagnosed
with chronic physical health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, or HIV/AIDS.2 Sixty-five
percent of all adults in the U.S. corrections system meet medical criteria for drug and/or alcohol use
disorders.3 In a study of more than 20,000 adults entering five local jails, researchers documented
serious mental illnesses in 14.5 percent of the men and 31 percent of the women, which taken
together, comprises 16.9 percent of those studied. These jail rates are in excess of three to six times
those found in the general population.4 The prevalence of hepatitis C is six to seven times higher in
jails and prisons than among the general population, and the rate of the prison population with an
HIV diagnosis—nearly two percent—is four times higher than that of the general population.5
The health costs associated with their care have skyrocketed in states across the country; for
example, Michigan’s Department of Corrections increased its health care expenditures by 95.8
percent between fiscal year 1999–2000 and fiscal year 2008–09. Expenditures per prisoner
increased by 89.9 percent during the same period.6
To address the health and safety of individuals and the public, officials should ensure that people
leaving the justice system are connected to health care that meets their needs. Jail and prison
interventions are essential to continuity of care and provide the foundation for individuals to
comply with conditions of release and to make the most of corrections’ investments in their
treatment. The PPACA offers an opportunity to make these connections to community care on a
greater scale.
What are common barriers to receiving health insurance for justice-involved individuals?
Survey data indicate that one year after release, as many as 60 percent of former inmates are not
employed in the regular labor market. 7 Furthermore, many have barriers to employment: most of
those leaving prison have low levels of education and few marketable job skills—for example, more
than 35 percent of returning individuals lack a high school diploma or GED.8 As a result, employersponsored insurance is often not available to individuals leaving prison or jail. Additionally, a large
number of releasees lack the means to buy insurance plans or pay out of pocket: 40–60 percent of
individuals exiting prison in 2006 lived in households earning less than $20,000 a year.9
Without insurance or adequate income to pay for health care services out of pocket, it is difficult for
individuals returning to the community to access medical services and prescription drugs. As a
result, their chronic conditions and health may deteriorate. The provisions of the PPACA may serve
to break this cycle of un-insurance, poor health, and high costs.

ELIGIBILITY AND SERVICES
The questions and answers that follow focus on how the PPACA expands eligibility for Medicaid,
provides guidelines for the minimum standard of services a plan must provide, and creates public
exchanges for buying health insurance.

2

With health reform, will more justice-involved individuals be eligible for Medicaid?
Yes. Currently, justice-involved people, many of whom are low-income adult men, do not qualify for
Medicaid unless they meet stringent disability requirements and are unable to work. This leaves
many of those exiting correctional facilities uninsured. Starting January 1, 2014, individuals with
household incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) will be eligible for
Medicaid regardless of disability status. For single adults, the eligibility ceiling equals an income of
approximately $14,400 per year; for a family of four, this comes to about $29,300 annually.*
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 16 million newly eligible individuals are
projected to enroll in Medicaid.10 Another analysis has determined that strong state-level outreach
and enrollment efforts could reach as many as 23 million new enrollees.11
How will the costs of expanded Medicaid eligibility be shared between federal and state
governments?
Although there are administrative costs associated with this expansion, states can receive
significant reimbursement to develop services for those who will be newly covered under Medicaid.
The federal government will initially cover 100 percent of the newly eligible Medicaid recipients.
Gradually, this will be reduced—from 100 percent for years 2014 through 2016, to 95 percent in
2017, to 94 percent in 2018, and to 93 percent in 2019—so that by 2020 and thereafter, the federal
share will be 90 percent, whereas the states will pay 10 percent.† The new law does not affect the
federal-state share for those who were eligible previously for Medicaid.
What happens to people who were covered by Medicaid previously?
The PPACA does not eliminate Medicaid eligibility for groups that are currently served by it—e.g.,
children, the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women, or the blind. Rather, it establishes a
new classification based on income alone for those who are a) under 65 years of age, b) not
pregnant, and c) not entitled to or enrolled in Medicaid benefits under another category. ‡,12
How will health reform affect benefits for individuals with disabilities?
Although the health reform law does not change the process for establishing disability for state or
federal financial income entitlements (such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security
Disability Insurance), individuals with income below the defined levels will qualify for Medicaid
*

These estimates use 2010 FPL guidelines, which vary by family size. See
https://www.cms.gov/MedicaidEligibility/downloads/POV10Combo.pdf.
† There are some exceptions to this formula. Arizona, Hawaii, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and
New York have already expanded their Medicaid programs (through 1115 Waivers) to include single adults
up to at least 100 percent. The health reform law refers to these states as “expansion states” and provides a
separate federal matching rate. For these states, the federal share of Medicaid reimbursement will be phased
in starting at 50 percent in 2014 and going up to 90 percent in 2020 and thereafter.
‡
The rate for reimbursement is higher for the newly eligible than it is for the previously eligible. Therefore,
states will still have to determine if people are eligible according to the pre-PPACA categories. It is important
to note that making these distinctions will be complex for states, yet the online applications, and simplified
requirements for enrollment should make the determination appear simpler to the consumer. At this writing,
the federal government is expected to issue regulations based on a statistical formula to determine the
financial responsibilities of the states and the federal government as it relates to newly versus previously
eligible individuals.

3

immediately and should have access to those medical care benefits while they continue working
through the disability determination process.
What services must be covered under the new Medicaid package?
Beginning in 2014, Medicaid coverage must include, at minimum, “essential health benefits” such as
preventive services for chronic diseases, prescription drugs, rehabilitative (or habilitative) services
and devices,* pediatric services (including oral and vision care), and mental health and substance
abuse services.13 The inclusion of mental health and substance abuse services as an essential health
benefit is of particular importance to the criminal justice population because of the
overrepresentation of people with behavioral health problems involved with the justice system.
This is in addition to the set of services provided under Medicaid prior to PPACA, which includes
(but is not limited to) inpatient and outpatient hospital visits, physicians’ surgical and medical
services, and laboratory and x-ray services.
The DHHS secretary will be providing additional guidance to states on the type and level of
coverage that will be required, with notice and opportunity to comment. When defining these
essential health benefits, the secretary is required to consider the healthcare needs of diverse
segments of the population (which may include the needs of those leaving correctional facilities).
The law also requires the secretary to periodically evaluate and report to Congress on the essential
health benefits to determine whether enrollees are facing any difficulty accessing needed services
either because of the extent of the coverage or the cost, or whether any gaps to coverage remain.14
What are state health insurance exchanges and who is eligible to use them?
State health insurance exchanges are online marketplaces through which consumers can easily
review, compare, and select from a variety of private health insurance plans. They are designed to
help individuals obtain private market coverage. By 2014, each state can either establish a state
health insurance exchange or use a federally established exchange. HHS will establish criteria to
accredit each plan for quality and to ensure they provide the same essential health benefits as
detailed above. The exchange plans will make available sliding-scale tax credits and subsidies for
households earning 100-400 percent of the federal poverty level.15 (For a household of four, 100
percent of the federal poverty level is $22,350; 400 percent is $89,400.†16) Generally, the credits
and subsidies are not available to those who are eligible for employer-sponsored insurance, except
if the individual demonstrates that he or she cannot afford the employer-sponsored plan (if the
employee’s share of the coverage exceeds 9.8 percent of his or her household income or if he or she
must pay more than 40 percent of the premium). In these cases, employees have the option of using
the exchange to purchase coverage. Eligibility for both the exchange and Medicaid plans will be
determined using the same simplified, online enrollment form. (The DHHS secretary will issue
more specific guidelines about how these exchanges will be designed.)
Can individuals who are incarcerated enroll in state health insurance exchanges?
It depends. Sentenced individuals who are currently serving time in prison or jail are prohibited
from using the state health insurance exchanges to enroll in a coverage plan. However, individuals
who are incarcerated while awaiting adjudication of charges may enroll in the exchanges.17 Because
Habilitative services are designed to assist individuals in acquiring skills that they never had, as well as
associated training to acquire self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills. (Iowa Administrative Code)
†
Excludes Hawaii and Alaska.
*

4

the exchanges are not operational until January 1, 2014, there may be opportunities to amend this
provision in support of reentry efforts to establish connections with a medical provider before a
sentenced individual’s release.

INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS
The PPACA establishes an individual requirement for most citizens and legal residents to have some
minimum level of health insurance coverage (a “mandate”). Until the implementation of PPACA in
January, 2014, no such mandate has existed. There are penalties for non-compliance as well as
exemptions to this provision. The mandate remains a controversial issue and, at the time of this
writing, is a basis for legal challenges to the health reform law. The individual requirements and
exemptions are discussed in this section.
Are people in prison and jail exempt from the mandate to obtain health insurance coverage?
In most cases.18 Though nearly everyone is required to be enrolled in an approved health insurance
plan every month from January 1, 2014, onwards, people who are incarcerated for more than a
month are exempted from this requirement during the term of their incarceration. (Those
incarcerated less than a month and those pending disposition do not have this exemption.) As soon
as an individual is released from incarceration, either with or without community supervision, this
exemption no longer exists (assuming they meet the other requirements).
What are the penalties for lacking coverage? Are there exemptions to these penalties?
The annual penalty for non-participation will increase over time. In 2014, the penalty will be $95;
by 2016, it increases to $695, or 2.5 percent of the individual’s household income, whichever is
greater. It is also noteworthy that the penalty is assessed through tax filings; those with incomes
below the filing threshold will not be fined. Exemptions to the penalties are established for
individuals who cannot afford coverage (yet do not otherwise qualify for Medicaid), members of
Indian tribes, those experiencing short coverage gaps lasting less than three months, or individuals
experiencing hardships.19 Importantly, there is no penalty if individuals meeting PPACA income
eligibility criteria fail to enroll in Medicaid. Furthermore, formerly incarcerated people with higher
taxable incomes (incomes above the Medicaid eligibility limit) returning to the community will have
three months to obtain coverage without a penalty being assessed.

ENROLLMENT
Enrolling individuals into health insurance programs who leave prisons and jails is the key to
connecting them to services that can improve individual and public health outcomes. This section
discusses how enrollment will take place.
What can corrections officials do to facilitate Medicaid enrollment?
State corrections officials can work with local and state health officials to ensure that individuals
are enrolled in Medicaid at the time of release. Ideally, corrections officials will have established
relationships with community health care providers who can assist in enrollment to better serve
individuals with significant health issues and with continuity of care needs (especially for substance
use and/or mental health treatment). The law specifically requires the process for enrollment in

5

Medicaid to be simplified and promotes targeted outreach to vulnerable populations. People
enrolling either for the first time or renewing their application can use secure online systems; their
data will be matched against federal and state data to ensure eligibility. Although not a population
specifically cited in the PPACA, individuals exiting correctional facilities may be considered
members of a vulnerable and underserved population; states could consider incorporating these
groups into their planning for assertive outreach and enrollment. In addition, correction officials in
states that terminate a person's Medicaid eligibility upon incarceration should work with state
policymakers to suspend coverage instead so individuals will not have to reapply for the benefit.
Will corrections databases be used to determine eligibility for participation in Medicaid?
The PPACA stipulates that each state create a data-matching system for “determining eligibility for
participation” in Medicaid.20 Eligibility will be determined on the basis of reliable third-party data,
such as vital records, employment history, enrollment systems, tax records, and other data
determined by the DHHS secretary. State and federal corrections data—such as incarceration
status—could serve as evidence of a person's income status and could be used as part of the
standards and protocols to determine eligibility. The data-matching program will apply only to
individuals who are seeking Medicaid eligibility or subsidies through the state-level exchange
system.21 Even if states are not required by HHS to include corrections data in their data-matching
arrangement, by planning to include criminal justice system data, they can ease proof of income
burdens on applicants who are leaving prison or jail.
Does PPACA apply to services provide by correctional facilities?
No. The PPACA provisions do not apply to health care provided by the criminal justice system, so
correctional facilities do not have to meet these mandates for minimum health benefits.
How soon can Medicaid eligibility be established for those exiting the corrections system?
Currently, individuals who are incarcerated are prohibited from participating in Medicaid (or the
state exchanges), and the PPACA makes no change to this rule. Transition and reentry staff should
continue to help enroll individuals at the time of their return to the community. (There may be
opportunities to influence upcoming regulations that clarify enrollment processes, including
regulations to improve reentry planning and help ensure that healthcare services are not
interrupted.)
What is the role of community health centers as venues for enrollment and care?
As part of the healthcare safety net, community health centers (sometimes referred to as federally
qualified health centers) provide comprehensive primary care to individuals on a sliding-fee scale.
They can also help enroll people in Medicaid using the streamlined procedures described
previously. Many of these clinics also provide behavioral health care (either on site or through
offsite referrals). PPACA provides significant funding starting in 2011 to create additional
community health centers and expand existing ones. Staff at reentry programs should promote
partnerships with nearby centers to help facilitate individuals’ healthy transition from a
correctional facility to the community.

6

MOVING FORWARD
How can corrections officials and health administrators better collaborate to achieve
improved health and safety outcomes?
Although many components of the health reform law are already being slowly phased in, its two
major components—Medicaid expansion and the start of state exchanges—are not operational
until January 1, 2014 (unless states opt to expand Medicaid earlier). While states await specific
guidance from the DHHS secretary regarding enrollment procedures and essential health benefits,
many officials have established working groups to plan and oversee health reform implementation.
Through these working groups, corrections and healthcare practitioners may find opportunities to
influence the decision making that could benefit individuals involved with the criminal justice
system as well as the communities to which they return. For example, many states are already
drafting legislation on insurance exchanges and putting together innovative practices in health care
(such as, integrated care models or health homes*) to present to DHHS as potential demonstration
projects and as budget-balancing initiatives. Corrections and health administrators can draw on
evidence-based practices to proactively plan for the distinct needs of people who have involvement
with the criminal justice system.

CONCLUSION
By expanding Medicaid and service capacity in communities, the PPACA provides a number of
improvements for access to health care for individuals leaving prison or jail. Principally, the
legislation expands Medicaid to nearly all low-income populations. With most of the provisions of
the legislation set to take effect in 2014, state health and justice systems should collaborate to
influence upcoming decisions about
the types of services that Medicaid will cover,
the procedures for enrollment, and
when enrollment can occur.
New federal guidelines are to be released in late 2011, with an expected opportunity for public
comment. A follow-up report from the CSG Justice Center will highlight some of these new
guidelines and responsive state efforts to coordinate health and criminal justice activities.
Ensuring that justice-involved populations are included in targeted outreach and enrollment and
that their health needs are taken into consideration will be important to improving individual
health, public safety, and community health outcomes.

*

Integrated care models bring substance abuse and mental health treatment under the same roof. Health
homes are patient-centered facilities where comprehensive primary care is provided.

7

8

NOTES
1

Sarah E. Wakeman, Margaret E. McKinney, and Josiah D. Rich, “Filling the Gap: The Importance of Medicaid
Continuity for Former Inmates,” Journal of General Internal Medicine 24 (July 2009): 860―62.
2
Kamala Mallik-Kane and Christy Visher, Health and Prisoner Reentry: How Physical, Mental, and Substance
Abuse Conditions Shape the Process of Reintegration (Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2008),
http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411617.
3 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Behind Bars II:
Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population (New York: Columbia University, February 2010), p. 35.
4 Henry Steadman, Fred C. Osher, Pamela Clark Robbins, Brian Case, and Steven Samuels, “Estimates on the
Prevalence of Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses in Jails,” Psychiatric Services 60 (June 2009): 761―65,
http://www.consensusproject.org/publications/prevalence-of-serious-mental-illness-among-jailinmates/PsySJailMHStudy.pdf.
5 CASA, Behind Bars II, p. 35.
6 Steve Angelotti and Sara Wycoff, “Michigan’s Prison Health Care: Costs in Context,” Michigan Senate Fiscal
Agency, November 2010,
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/Issues/PrisonHealthCareCosts/PrisonHealthCareCosts.p
df.
7 Harold Watts and Demetra Smith Nightingale, Adding It Up: The Economic Impact of Incarceration on
Individuals, Families, and Communities. The Unintended Consequences of Incarceration (New York:
Vera Institute of Justice, 1996).
8 Diana Brazzell, Anna Crayton, Debbie A. Mukamal, Amy L. Solomon, Nicole Lindahl, From the Classroom to
the Community: Exploring the Role of Education during Incarceration and Reentry (New York: The Urban
Institute and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2009),
http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/Roundtable_Monograph.pdf.
9 CASA, Behind Bars II, p. 35.
10 Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Letter to Speaker Pelosi from CBO Director Douglas W. Elmendorf.
March 20, 2010, http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11379/AmendReconProp.pdf.
11
J. Holahan and I. Headen, Medicaid Coverage and Spending in Health Reform: National and State-by-State
Results for Adults at or below 133% FPL (Washington, DC: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,
May 2010), http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/Medicaid-Coverage-and-Spending-in-Health-ReformNational-and-State-By-State-Results-for-Adults-at-or-Below-133-FPL.pdf.
12 PPACA, Section 2001(a)(1).
13 PPACA, Section 1302.
14 PPACA, Section 1203(b)(4)(C, G, H).
15 PPACA, Sections 1401 and 1402.
16
Department of Health and Human Services, Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (Washington, DC:
DHHS, January 20, 2011), http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/01/20/2011-1237/annual-updateof-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines.
17 PPACA, Section 1312 (f)(1)(B) INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS EXCLUDED.—“An individual shall not be
treated as a qualified individual if, at the time of enrollment, the individual is incarcerated, other than
incarceration pending the disposition of charges.”
18 PPACA, Title 1, Subtitle F, Part 1, Section 1501(d)(4) “INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.—Such term
[applicable individual] shall not include an individual for any month if for the month the individual is
incarcerated, other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges."
19 PPACA, Subtitle F, Part 1, Section 1501 (e) (1) to (5).
20 PPACA, Sections 1413 (c) and 1561, respectively.
21 Beth Morrow and Julia Paradise, Explaining Health Reform: Eligibility and Enrollment Processes for
Medicaid, CHIP, and Subsidies in the Exchanges (Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010),
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8090.pdf.

9