Providing those additional services will create opportunities for individuals to value and improve their health.” Ernest M. “We really want to promote and value the health of our incarcerated population. Additionally, Corrections Medicine is looking to expanding eye care to better manage those who have prescription glasses, contacts or any additional eye concerns.Įrnest believes that extending these health services will make a huge difference in the health of the incarcerated population: Louis County Jail offers dental services three out of seven days a week but is hoping to partner with an academic institution to provide services on the days dental care is not currently available. Louis County Department of Public Health GoalsĬorrections Medicine, the program which provides medical, mental health, and dental services for individuals incarcerated, is also hoping to expand their dental services and add eye care in the future. Enrolling individuals in Medicaid and helping them take care of their health indirectly benefits all members of the household: kids, peers, elders, and anyone else can be motivated to take care of themselves in the same way.” Ernest M. “Health reimagines one’s personhood and values for themselves, and that effect trickles down to help with all members of a household. Louis area to encourage individuals to seek primary health care as opposed to urgent care or visiting the emergency department: “Enrolling people who are incarcerated in Medicaid coverage goes hand-in-hand with this push towards primary care but provides an additional opportunity and location to amplify these conversations.”Įrnest believes that even a brief conversation with individuals from the incarcerated population is a space to underscore the importance of health care and will benefit all community members in the process: The RHC is perfectly aligned to be involved in this work and continue in the future.Įrnest also described a recent push in the St. By educating and empowering community members to understand their options and promote agency, they have the opportunity to amplify their needs and access necessary services.

Not only is this initiative timely and responding to current community needs, but it looks into the future and improves access both today and tomorrow. Each year, the RHC publishes our Access to Care report, but at times, it feels challenging to make the report actionable because the data is a year or two behind its publication date.” Blessing Kuebee, Regional Health Commission “This work is critical and well-aligned with efforts of the RHC to improve access to care. This initiative is a great opportunity to improve access to coverage and clarify confusion among our community-members.īlessing Kuebee, Strategic Initiatives Director of the RHC also described the vision and interest of the RHC in this initiative: There is a lot of confusion among the incarcerated population about the status of their health insurance: many assume they are uninsured despite having insurance or were under the impression they did have insurance and were not actually covered. The overall goal of the initiative is to enroll 800+ total individuals, but even this initial increase brings the total insured population in the St. Launched October 10 th, the initiative has allowed the RHC and DPH to enroll over 100 people. The team is looking for partners to help expand this work! Progress “Everyone has a right to health care, and not being able to serve those who are uninsured or without access was an issue of mine.” Ernest M. Louis County Department of Public Health is helping to lead this project for the DPH. McDonnell, Public Health Coordinator of the St. Through the joint effort, the RHC and DPH hope that this initiative targets vulnerable individuals to help them live their best and most fulfilling life upon release. The goal of the initiative is to help those who are incarcerated apply and enroll in Medicaid so that when they are eventually released from the justice center, they have access to care and necessary health services. Louis County Jail in Medicaid health insurance coverage. Louis County Department of Public Health (DPH) to mass-enroll people incarcerated in the St. The Regional Health Commission (RHC) has partnered with the St.

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