CSAC would like to provide an update as shared by the Council on
Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH): This year marks
the beginning of the implementation of pioneering policies
allowing Medicaid to cover certain pre-release reentry services.
These developments are occurring through state-level Medicaid
section 1115 reentry demonstrations and new nationwide mandates
aimed at connecting youth and young adults to essential services
during reentry.
For the first time, state health officials are partnering with
prisons, jails, and youth correctional facilities to provide
Medicaid coverage for crucial health and behavioral health
services to incarcerated individuals prior to their release.
These policies aim to improve access to and continuity of care
post-release, thereby facilitating smoother transitions back into
communities and families. Enhanced healthcare access during
reentry is expected to bolster public safety, reduce mortality
rates, and cut down on emergency room, prison, and jail
expenditures.
Click here to read HARP’S Eight Key
Considerations for Successful Implementation of New Medicaid
Reentry Policies.
