Can Health Policy Contribute to Drop in Crime Rate?

Two major sea changes under way in California’s health care system could have effects beyond the health care system itself.

The Affordable Care Act, in addition to bringing significant changes to California’s state prison system, could contribute to increased public safety and a reduction in crime statewide, according to some experts and stakeholders.

The realignment of state and county responsibilities for government health programs also could have similar effects, according to some others.

We asked experts to explain:

Can realignment of county and state health care responsibilities help improve public safety and reduce crime either in the short term or long term? How?
Does the Affordable Care Act offer opportunities to make changes that could contribute to increased public safety and/or a reduction in crime in California? How?

We got responses from:

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

<h1>Can Health Policy Contribute to Drop in Crime Rate?</h1>
<div>		<time class="posted-on" datetime="2012-09-24T00:00:00-07:00">
			September 24, 2012		</time>
		</div>
<p>Two major sea changes under way in California’s health care system could have effects beyond the health care system itself. </p><p>The Affordable Care Act, in addition to bringing significant changes to California’s state prison system, could contribute to increased public safety and a reduction in crime statewide, according to some experts and stakeholders.</p><p>The realignment of state and county responsibilities for government health programs also could have similar effects, according to some others.</p><p>We asked experts to explain:</p><ul><li>Can realignment of county and state health care responsibilities help improve public safety and reduce crime either in the short term or long term? How?</li><li>Does the Affordable Care Act offer opportunities to make changes that could contribute to increased public safety and/or a reduction in crime in California? How?</li></ul><p>We got responses from:</p><em><a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about <a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.</em><p><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/morning-briefing/">Subscribe</a> to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing.</p>

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