Six States Selected to Participate in Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and Center for Health Care Strategies, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, are pleased to announce that six states—Alaska, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin—have been selected to participate in a six-month Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy to improve reentry outcomes for people with complex needs involved in the justice system.  

States recognize that the transition from incarceration to the community is a very challenging period. People recently released from incarceration have much higher rates than the general population of emergency department use, overdose, and death from all causes. Effective connections to community medical and behavioral health care services is a critical strategy for improving reentry outcomes.  

In April 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance encouraging states to apply for a Section 1115 Reentry Demonstration Opportunity. This opportunity allows states to apply to cover certain Medicaid services, such as those for substance use disorder and mental health, to eligible individuals up to 90 days prior to their expected release date from incarceration. This helps to ensure that Medicaid enrollees establish connections to community providers prior to their release from incarceration and increases the likelihood that they continue to receive treatment for substance use, mental health, and other chronic conditions during this important time. Addressing people’s health needs not only enhances their chances of success during reentry, but also reduces the likelihood of recidivism, ultimately contributing to healthier and safer communities. 

The Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy builds on this momentum by bringing together teams of senior leaders across state Medicaid, corrections, and behavioral health agencies. These leaders will work together virtually and in-person to develop a shared vision for reentry services, build partnerships, and identify strategies to harness Medicaid’s potential to improve to health coverage access, quality of care, and reentry outcomes.  

Teams will participate in exercises and discussions that support the development of:  

• A shared understanding of how different state systems operate 

• Effective enrollment and suspension strategies for people leaving prisons or jails 

• Practices to coordinate medical and behavioral health care in the corrections setting  

• Reentry best practices 

• Reentry planning processes that include housing and other health-related social needs 

• Data and information sharing 

• Peer connections across states 

“The Wisconsin DOC is excited to have been selected to participate in this Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy,” said Ray Woodruff, reentry director for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. “We are committed to providing opportunities and resources to those who are releasing from our facilities, and this academy will assist us as we develop and enhance policy and practice to better serve clients during the transition from incarceration to the community.”  

“It is an honor for Oklahoma to be selected to participate in the Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy,” said Ellen Buettner, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and chief health and mental health advisor to Governor Kevin Stitt. “This opportunity allows us to better serve Oklahomans by improving reentry outcomes and ensuring that those transitioning from incarceration receive the critical care and support they need for a healthier future.” 

For more information, please contact Sarah Wurzburg at swurzburg@csg.org, who leads Second Chance Act Health and Housing training and technical assistance.   

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-23-GK-05504-MUMU awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.