The Health and Reentry Project

State and federal policymakers have long considered changes to Medicaid policy to better support the health of people as they leave prison or jail. Such changes aim to advance multiple national goals, from improving health equity to reducing recidivism, strengthening public safety, and addressing public health crises related to mental health, addiction, and COVID-19. 

Bipartisan legislation under consideration in Congress would establish Medicaid coverage for eligible individuals 30 days before release from prison or jail. Even as federal policymakers consider this change, a handful of states have asked the Biden Administration to make similar policy changes administratively through Medicaid’s 1115 demonstration waiver process. Whether through statute or administrative action, it appears likely that changes extending Medicaid coverage to incarcerated individuals will occur in 2022. 

To help states, the federal government, and relevant stakeholders prepare for and navigate this transition, CCJ is joining with two partners on the Health and Reentry Project. The goal is to promote continuity of care between correctional and community settings and maximize the benefits of Medicaid policy changes for public health and public safety. 

Partners

The Health and Reentry Project is led by Executive Director Vikki Wachino, who oversaw the Medicaid and CHIP programs as Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from 2015 to 2017 and served as CEO of Community Oriented Correctional Health Services. Waxman Strategies, mission-driven policy, advocacy, and communications firm with an extensive record on health policy, is the third partner on the project. 

Advisory Committee

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Donald Berwick
Lecturer of Health Care Policy
Harvard Medical School
Khalil Cumberbatch
Khalil Cumberbatch
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Council on Criminal Justice
Chief-Jenkins
Mack Jenkins
Chief Probation Officer of the San Diego County Probation (retired)
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Denny Kaemingk
Former Secretary of Corrections
South Dakota
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Peter Koutoujian
Sheriff, Middlesex (MA)
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Angel Sanchez
Advocate
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Topeka Sam
Founder and Executive Director
The Ladies of Hope Ministries
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Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton
Lieutenant Governor Illinois
John Tilley
John Tilley
Former Secretary of Justice (KY) and Legislator
Emily wang
Emily Wang
Professor of Medicine
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Tyler Winkelman
Hennepin Healthcare
Vikki
Vikki Wachino
HARP Executive Director

Learn More

Health and Reentry Project
Issue Brief 2

This issue brief outlines key principles for changing Medicaid’s role in reentry, proposes a new reentry care model, and identifies essential elements for successful implementation of potential new Medicaid reentry policies.

Health and Reentry Project
Issue Brief 1

This issue brief describes Medicaid’s role as well as the policy changes that are under consideration, health care in the criminal justice system, and key implementation issues that will be central to the success of changing Medicaid’s role at reentry.

Extending Medicaid Coverage to Incarcerated People

The Health and Reentry Project was launched to maximize the beneficial impacts of a Medicaid policy shift on public health and public safety.

Supporters

Support for the initiative is provided by the California Health Care Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, the Rx Foundation, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, as well as CCJ’s general operating contributors.