The U.S. has the highest incarceration rates globally, impacting millions of individuals and their families.

In this episode, Melissa Denino, the Senior Director of Market Access at Innsena, talks about the profound impact of incarceration on health in the United States. She discusses the high rates of chronic and infectious diseases, mental health issues, and the lack of adequate healthcare in prisons.

Thanks to her personal connection to the cause, Melissa is deeply passionate about her work with the Realness Project and her efforts to leverage Medicaid to support justice-involved individuals. Throughout this conversation, she touches on the challenges of reentry, the need for habilitation rather than rehabilitation, and the role of technology and telemedicine in improving inmate care.

Melissa further explores the contentious issue of privatization in the prison system and stresses the importance of reducing the stigmatization of the incarcerated. She also emphasizes how stigmatizing incarcerated individuals harms the community and suggests ways to support these individuals through volunteering and donations.

Tune in and learn about the crucial intersections of health and justice and how we can support those impacted by the incarceration system!