Impact — IHAP Inmate Health Access Program

9,217 People Connected to Coverage

12.7× Higher Risk of Death Without Healthcare at Release

60% Lower Odds of Reincarceration with Coverage in First 30 Days — Fu et al. 2013

$5.9M Documented Savings — Lee County, FL

16% Recidivism Reduction with Medicaid Enrollment

63% of People Leaving Jail Have Untreated Substance Use Disorder

29,856 People Who Asked for Help — and Got It

23% National Recidivism Reduction from Second Chance Act

9,217 People Connected to Coverage

12.7× Higher Risk of Death Without Healthcare at Release

60% Lower Odds of Reincarceration with Coverage in First 30 Days — Fu et al. 2013

$5.9M Documented Savings — Lee County, FL

16% Recidivism Reduction with Medicaid Enrollment

63% of People Leaving Jail Have Untreated Substance Use Disorder

29,856 People Who Asked for Help — and Got It

23% National Recidivism Reduction from Second Chance Act

What National Leaders Say

Law enforcement, lawmakers, and federal agencies agree.

The call for healthcare access at reentry isn't partisan. It's coming from sheriffs, senators, and public health officials who have all arrived at the same conclusion from different directions.

"This legislation will reduce recidivism and therefore ease budgetary burdens from the jail system. In the long run, getting people the care they need is the right thing to do — for them and for our communities."

Sheriff Dave Mahoney President, National Sheriffs' Association · Dane County, WI

"I do not think there is a singular issue that has greater impact on sheriffs across the country and the individuals in our care — and our communities — than the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy."

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian President, Major County Sheriffs of America · Middlesex County, MA

"By restarting benefits for Medicaid-eligible Americans prior to release, we take swift, needed action to combat the disease of addiction. Our bill will save lives, lower costs, and reduce recidivism."

Rep. Paul Tonko U.S. House of Representatives · Co-sponsor, Bipartisan Reentry Act

From the Field

Sheriffs and county officials who have seen it work.

These endorsements come from elected sheriffs and county officials who have partnered with IHAP's enrollment program and documented the results firsthand.

Flagler County, FL

⭐

Sheriff Rick Staly

Flagler County Sheriff's Office · Five Diamond Accredited · NCCHC Accredited

$657,000

Total Documented Savings · March 2025–Present

"Since March 2025, this program has saved Flagler County over $193,000 by successfully enrolling eligible inmates. Additionally, through the HealthCred database, the program accessed already enrolled inmates, resulting in another $457,000 in savings by resubmitting their healthcare bills to insurers. In total, Flagler County taxpayers have benefited from nearly $657,000 in savings."

Letter of Endorsement, December 2, 2025

⭐

Sheriff Gordon Smith

Bradford County Sheriff's Office · Bradford County, FL

$127,000+

Documented Savings · May 2025 Alone

"Our partnership with HealthCred Care has demonstrated measurable results in Bradford County. This program saved Bradford County over $127,000 by successfully enrolling eligible inmates and recovering previously unclaimed reimbursements. These realized savings are being reinvested directly into local healthcare resources — including new software, medical equipment, staff training, and facility improvements."

⭐

Sheriff Heath Jackson

Escambia County Sheriff's Office · Escambia County, AL

"Escambia County is very pleased with our partnership with HealthCred. Since implementing the program, we have realized substantial savings within our inmate medical budget while improving continuity of care for individuals transitioning back into the community. The HealthCred team has consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, responsiveness, and expertise, making the process seamless for our staff. Their commitment to collaboration and service has made HealthCred a valuable partner to our agency."

⭐

Sheriff Noel Brown

Bulloch County Sheriff's Office · Bulloch County, GA

"HealthCred has been a valued partner, demonstrating professionalism, accountability, and an understanding of correctional environments. Programs like this are essential to controlling costs, improving outcomes, and supporting safer communities, and they deserve a workable pathway within Georgia's correctional system."

Bradford County, FL — Additional Voices

"This program has not only given us the tools to reach some of our re-entry goals in helping people return to the community better than when they came into our facility — but also saving our medical budget tremendously."

Major Dawn McKinnley — Jail Director, Bradford County Sheriff's Office

"We have saved thousands and thousands of dollars thanks to HealthCred. This will save you so much money in your jails."

Commissioner Diane Andrews — Bradford County, FL

Endorsements are from verified facility and government partners. Signed letters on file.

Bipartisan Congressional Support

This issue has no party.

Legislation supporting pre-release healthcare enrollment has attracted support from Democrats and Republicans alike — because the data is the same regardless of who's reading it.

📜

Bipartisan Reentry Act (2025)

Reintroduced April 2025 by Reps. Tonko (D-NY), Turner (R-OH), Pettersen (D-CO), and Rutherford (R-FL) — a former sheriff representing Florida's 5th District. Empowers states to restore Medicaid access up to 30 days before release.

⚕️

Medicaid Reentry Act

Led by Senators Baldwin (D-WI) and Braun (R-IN) in the Senate. Specifically addresses pre-release Medicaid activation so coverage is ready the moment someone walks out — not 30 days later.

🔄

Second Chance Reauthorization Act (2024)

Backed by Senators Durbin (D-IL), Capito (R-WV), Booker (D-NJ), Cornyn (R-TX), and Welch (D-VT). Reauthorizes critical grant programs for housing, career training, and treatment. Has reduced recidivism 23% nationally since 2008.

In 2025, a bipartisan group of 88 lawmakers signed a joint letter calling for continued Second Chance Act funding — led by Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Danny Davis (D-IL). The message was clear: this works, and it needs to keep going.

Organizations on Record

The professional consensus is clear.

The following national organizations have made formal public statements supporting correctional healthcare access and continuity of care at reentry. They represent law enforcement, county government, public health, and correctional health professionals.

🏛️

National Sheriffs' Association

Joint Task Force on Inmate Health Care & Recidivism

🏛️

National Association of Counties

Co-chairs NSA Joint Task Force

🔒

American Jail Association

On record supporting healthcare continuity

⭐

Major County Sheriffs of America

Active support for Medicaid Reentry Act

🏥

U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

ASPE Report to Congress — January 2023

📋

NCCHC

National Commission on Correctional Health Care

These organizations have made publicly stated positions on correctional healthcare policy. They have not specifically endorsed IHAP or its programs.

The Research

Numbers that don't move, no matter who's counting.

Every major statistic IHAP cites comes from peer-reviewed research, federal agency reports, or published government data.

12.7×

Higher risk of death in the first two weeks after release

Drug overdose is the leading cause. People walk out with untreated conditions, no medication, and nowhere to turn. This isn't a failure of character — it's a failure of infrastructure.

Source: The Lancet

16%

Reduction in recidivism with Medicaid enrollment at release

Among formerly incarcerated individuals with severe mental illness, Medicaid enrollment upon release was directly associated with a 16% reduction in recidivism. Studies conducted in Florida and Washington State.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, ASPE Report to Congress — January 2023

60%

Lower odds of reincarceration when insured in the first 30 days post-release

A peer-reviewed study found that coverage in the first month after release was associated with 60% lower odds of reincarceration. This is why IHAP starts enrollment at intake — not release day.

Source: Fu et al., American Journal of Public Health, 2013

23%

Drop in state-level reincarceration rates since the Second Chance Act (2008)

The national reincarceration rate has fallen 23% since 2008 — from 35% to 27% within three years of release. Coordinated reentry support, including healthcare continuity, is the primary driver.

Source: CSG Justice Center, "50 States, 1 Goal" — April 2024

Case Study

Lee County, Florida: $5.9 million in year one.

Lee County implemented IHAP's enrollment program and documented $5.9 million in savings within its first year of operation. When people have healthcare, they use doctors instead of emergency rooms. They manage chronic conditions before they become crises. They don't come back — and each person who doesn't come back saves the county tens of thousands of dollars.

$5.9M

Documented savings
in year one

Year 1

From program start
to documented result

The math is straightforward: one person who doesn't return to jail saves the county $45,000–$53,000 per year. One person who uses a primary care doctor instead of an emergency room saves thousands more. At scale, these numbers add up faster than any other public health intervention available to county government.

The Ripple Effect

When one person gets care and stays out, everyone wins.

🏘️

Measurably Safer Communities

Counties with expanded Medicaid access see measurably fewer violent offenses and arrests. The NBER found that losing Medicaid coverage significantly increases crime — the inverse is equally true. Healthcare continuity at reentry makes communities safer. Full stop.

👨‍👩‍👧

Families Kept Together

5 million children in the U.S. have had a parent incarcerated. Every person who stays out is a parent present, a partner supported, a sibling no longer absent. The ripple of one person getting care reaches every person connected to them.

💰

Enormous Savings for Taxpayers

One year in county jail costs $45,000–$53,000 per person. People with justice involvement make up 4.2% of the U.S. population but account for 8.5% of all ER spending — an estimated $5.2 billion in excess costs annually. Prevention is always less expensive than crisis.

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The research isunambiguous.