Iowa to seek Medicaid reimbursement for prisoner hospitalizations

Iowa may take advantage of Medicaid reimbursement for inmate hospitalizations next year as the pool of eligible inmates increases, according to The (Iowa) Gazette. Iowa is one of many states that doesn't receive Medicaid reimbursement for inmate hospitalizations because only pregnant, disabled or elderly prisoners qualify for Medicaid. But the newspaper reports that because the Medicaid eligibility requirements will change under the Affordable Care Act, the state may apply for Medicaid reimbursement after all rather than have hospitals eat the costs for the admissions. The Gazette reports inmate medical care costs between $5 million and $7 million a year. Article