That is one of the findings of a study published Tuesday in PLoS Medicine. The study was among the first to follow people with HIV from jail or prison back into the community. What they found was that most people — more than half — fell out of care within three years of leaving prison.

But those who did stay in care did well — better than those who returned to prison. They were more likely to have access to health insurance and intensive case management that connected them to support groups, housing, medical care and other services.

The fact that so few had that experience points out how the health care system fails this population, says Dr. Frederick Altice, director of Yale’s HIV and Prisons program and the study’s co-author. In some states, prisoners are re-enrolled in Medicaid before they’re released. In others, it can take weeks or longer.

…continue reading ‘After Prison, Many People Living With HIV Go Without Treatment’

Thumbimage via NPR Shots Kenyon Ellsworth for NPR

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