NAPO Washington Reports

NAPO participated in the National Criminal Justice Association Webinar

August 7, 2013
View this Washington Report as a PDF

On July 29, 2013, NAPO participated in a National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) webinar on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) impact on the criminal justice system.  The following includes key points that were presented during the session:

  • Individuals involved in the criminal justice system have much higher rates of serious mental illness than individuals in the general population, as well as higher rates of chronic medical conditions, including:  diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer, and HIV.
  • Increased access to healthcare will reduce violations and new arrests due to untreated substance use and psychiatric disorders.
  • Continuity and solid linkages from jail to the community are essential. 
    • There must be a shift in framework from acute episodic treatment to sustainable chronic disease management to support long-term, durable recovery.

NAPO continues to support better access to mental healthcare for individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice community, which is demonstrated by our commitment to passing the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act. 

Moreover, NAPO is supportive of the ideas highlighted above, but will continue to engage members of Congress to advocate for member concerns regarding the ACA, including the following issues:

  • NAPO has fought against the “Cadillac” health insurance plan tax, as the new tax will negatively impact public safety officers.  NAPO is reviewing ways to exempt law enforcement officers from this tax.
    • (A “Cadillac” insurance plan is a high cost policy.  Beginning in 2018, the ACA imposes a new 40% annual excise tax on taxpayers who are covered by high cost health insurance plans.  Higher thresholds are set for workers in high-risk professions, such as public safety officers).
  •  NAPO is committed to increasing the limit on the amount an officer can contribute to a Flexible Spending Account.
    • (The ACA negatively impacts Flexible Spending Arrangements by decreasing the amount an officer is authorized to contribute from $5,000 a year to $2,500 a year.  Many law enforcement officers currently contribute more than $2,500 into these accounts.  In today’s economic climate, it is important to maximize personal savings, especially in regard to an officer’s annual healthcare expense).

If you have any questions about this webinar of NAPO’s position on the ACA, please contact Melissa Nee at:  mnee@napo.org.

SOURCE:

Cropper, Cabell, Jack Cutrone, and Maureen McDonnell. "Expanding Treatment: How the Affordable Care Act Can

Impact Criminal Justice Systems." Weblog post. National Criminal Justice Association, 29 July 2013. Web. 1 Aug. 2013. <http://ncja-avectra.informz.net/ncja-avectra/data/images/aca_webinar.pdf>.