Written by Cyrus Heravi

Prisons across the U.S. are signing up inmates for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, transferring a substantial amount of inmate healthcare costs to the federal government.

The Affordable Care Act is allowing states to extend Medicaid coverage to single and childless adults, a large part of the inmate population. This means that standard inmate care is still provided and paid for by the states, but hospital stays beyond 24 hours will be covered by Medicaid for signed up inmates.

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