Click Here to Access the Justice System Patient Portal
The County Jail Behavioral Health Medication Assistance Program creates the critical link between the local corrections system, primary health care services, and affordable medication access. It’s a simple and innovative model to address issues of recidivism among local offenders with behavioral health disorders.
Any individual released from a county jail located in Polk, Dallas, Story, Pottawattamie, or Black Hawk counties, who is unable to pay for his/her behavioral health medications is eligible to receive primary health care services and up to 90 days of behavioral health medications at no cost.
Process: Individuals who seek assistance are referred to their local Federally Qualified Health Center where patients are seen on an appointment (preferred method) or walk-in basis. Patients with household incomes 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or below are eligible to receive up to 90 days (30 Day RXs with up to two 30-day refills) of behavioral health medications for free. Individuals with household incomes >200% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible to purchase medications at a reduced rate through the FQHC’s 340B Pharmacy. If the patient is in need of additional behavioral health services, he or she will be referred to a local behavioral health provider during the 90-day medication benefit period.
Outcomes: The primary goal is to provide critical behavioral health medications to high-risk individuals in need of assistance. Doing so may provide local offenders with the needed tools to develop a safe and healthy lifestyle outside of the corrections system. If successful this initiative will positively impact the lives of many Iowans and generate significant savings to participating county jails and their local taxpayers.
During the first 90-day post release, individuals that utilized the program to access 90 days of free behavioral health medications recidivate nearly three times less than non-participants with behavioral disorders.
If you have recently been released from the Polk County Jail and are seeking assistance with behavioral health medications, please read these Frequently Asked Questions.
This program is made possible through a partnership with the Iowa Office of the Attorney General.
Great article about