States Can Use Medicaid 1115 Demonstrations To Improve Care Transitions For ‘Soon-To-Be-Former’ Correctional Inmates

States can use Medicaid 1115 demonstration projects to improve continuity of care during the period when a justice-involved individual with chronic behavioral health or medical conditions reenters the community. Normally, states terminate (or suspend) Medicaid eligibility for inmates because Medicaid will not reimburse for services provided to incarcerated individuals; as a result, inmates returning to the community face health coverage gaps until their eligibility is restored. About 80% of individuals released from incarceration have chronic conditions, which are associated with higher costs to both the health care and criminal justice systems.
As of October 21, 2022, 11 states had . . .