HHS authorizes five states to provide health care coverage for people transitioning out of incarceration

The Department of Health and Human Services July 2 announced it will provide Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage to incarcerated people in Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Vermont prior to release. The coverage, provided under the Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity, will allow those states to provide coverage up to 90 days before an eligible person's expected release date. Coverage under the measure includes substance-use disorder treatment and treatment for certain behavioral health conditions. Other states participating in the program are California, Massachusetts, Montana and Washington.