Health Care and Behavioral Service Use by Medicaid-Enrolled Adults After Release From Incarceration.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the characteristics and health care utilization of adults released from state prisons and enrolled in Medicaid in Indiana, which has policies to facilitate timely enrollment.

METHODS

Medicaid claims and Department of Corrections data were used to examine demographic and incarceration characteristics and health care utilization patterns of adults (N=15,929) released from state prisons and enrolled in Medicaid within 120 days of release, between 2015 and 2018.

RESULTS

More than 80% of participants had at least one health encounter within 120 days of initiating coverage, and nearly 50% used the emergency department. Those enrolled in Medicaid within 30 days of release were more likely to have behavioral health needs and to utilize subacute behavioral health care than those who enrolled later.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding these patterns of health care utilization is essential to operationalizing procedures and interventions to support the health care needs of adults involved in the criminal legal system.