From Corrections to Community: Navigating the New Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity, Part 2

Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance and the CSG Justice Center are offering a webinar for state and local corrections agencies and their state and community partners to hear directly from leaders in two states that have developed Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 demonstration proposals. Presenters will include state leaders from New Hampshire who have submitted a proposal to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to apply for an extension to the current 1115 demonstration and from Washington whose proposal was recently approved by CMS with an approved proposal with reentry negotiations still pending final approval. These leaders will share their experience engaging stakeholders, designing their demonstrations’ scope and services, and planning for implementation.

In April 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) released new guidance on Opportunities to Test Transition-Related Strategies to Support Community Reentry and Improve Care Transitions for Individuals Who Are Incarcerated. This webinar builds on Part 1 of this series, held on July 19, which was a joint presentation from OJP and CMCS that provided an overview of opportunities for covering pre-release services under the Section 1115 demonstration opportunity and how the demonstration can support continuity of care for individuals with physical and behavioral health needs during reentry. You can find the meeting presentation and a recording of the first webinar here.

This second webinar in the series will focus on equipping corrections leaders to partner with their state’s Medicaid representatives, as well as other key local and state entities to develop, plan, and implement a Section 1115 demonstration proposal and effective strategies for reentry. State representatives, including corrections leaders, who have already developed 1115 waiver proposals will share their experience working with their state Medicaid departments to develop 1115 waiver proposals focused on improving pre-release services and care transitions for the reentry population. Panelists will discuss key components of reentry services that are included in their states’ demonstration application and will outline concrete strategies they recommend for partnering with state Medicaid agencies on setting up the demonstration and the systems involved for success.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the processes and stakeholders involved with developing and implementing Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 demonstrations in two states.
• Understand the opportunities for corrections agencies to participate in scoping, planning, and implementing Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 demonstrations.