To Facilitate Post-Release Addiction Treatment, Pennsylvania Changes Medicaid Eligibility Policy For Inmates

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is in the process of revising its Medicaid procedures so that it can suspend, rather than cancel, Medicaid benefits for jail or prison inmates. The goal is to facilitate rapid access to Medicaid-funded addiction and mental health treatment upon release from jail or prison. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) estimates that 12% of state prison inmates have an addiction disorder.

On January 6, 2016, DOC Secretary John Wetzel announced details of the DOC's medication assisted treatment (MAT) program, and the DOC noted the new approach to inmate Medicaid benefits in . . .