New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Post

People returning to their communities after periods of incarceration often face major #health challenges. To begin to address these issues, Arnold Ventures’ Criminal Justice team has made a commitment to work at the intersection of health care and reentry. A first and key partner in this emerging portfolio is the Health and Reentry Project (HARP), an initiative that aims to improve the health of people returning from incarceration. At a moment when federal policymakers have, for the first time, begun to allow #Medicaid to cover services for people who are incarcerated, HARP is bringing together stakeholders from across the #healthcaresystem, #criminaljusticesystem, and communities — many who have never worked together before — to design structures that meet justice-involved people’s health needs. In our latest Q&A, Vikki Wachino talks to us about the Health and Reentry Project, the powerful impact new federal policy could have, and what's next for HARP. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gJEFkrmu

⚕️ Supporting Healthy Transitions from Incarceration to Community Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans return home from prison and jail. Because they lose insurance coverage during incarceration, many must navigate a fragmented patchwork of health care services on their own. Earlier this month, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that includes Medicaid policy changes designed to improve care transitions and access to support for this population. On To the Point, experts from Waxman Strategies and the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) explain how these changes can help, including by: ➡️ suspending, rather than terminating, #Medicaid enrollment for incarcerated people 🇺🇸 using state grants to build operational capacity 🧭 providing guidance to support state implementation and operations 🧑🏾⚕️ making connections to community providers. According to the authors, these reforms could “improve a range of health and public safety outcomes, including reducing mortality, unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and rates of recidivism and reincarceration.”

Interesting opportunity to better serve individuals leaving incarceration and in need of treatment. The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) expansion of Medicaid provided new opportunities to connect enrollees leaving incarceration to coverage and services. The ACA expanded Medicaid eligibility to nearly all adults with incomes at or below 138% FPL ($20,783 for an individual in 2024) in the 41 states that have adopted the expansion. Previously, many adults who were incarcerated did not qualify for Medicaid due to restrictions that excluded low-income adults without dependent children from the program.

People reentering the community after incarceration are at risk of fatal overdose, especially during their first 48 hours home. Watch our webinar for 5 evidence-based strategies to reduce that risk and promote stable #recovery. https://bit.ly/4cIXqb6

An important change... good to see progress in coverage for folks released from incarceration. It has never made sense to me for people with chronic conditions, mental or physical to be released with no access to care, or in many cases, meds for their chronic conditions. The historical path of folks going from incarceration to the emergency department of the closest hospital is expensive and not helpful. Allowing a reasonable transition to outside care will have a positive impact.

Ensuring Transformative Incarceration: Building Better Futures for Offenders The debate about whether humans are inherently good or evil often leads me to reflect on human nature. I believe individuals are fundamentally good. For those in privileged lives, it’s easier to recognize this goodness. However, desperation and systemic barriers can lead others to crime. Many who offend feel remorse, indicating that situational factors can steer anyone off course. Given this understanding, the justice system should prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. The goal is to help incarcerated individuals reintegrate as law-abiding citizens, fostering a more just community. Here are key strategies to achieve this: Focus on Rehabilitation Educational Programs: Access to education, including literacy and vocational training, equips inmates with skills for employment upon release, empowering individuals and reducing recidivism. Mental Health Support: Many incarcerated individuals struggle with mental health issues. Comprehensive care, including therapy, addresses root causes and helps individuals manage their conditions. Substance Abuse Treatment: Substance abuse contributes significantly to criminal behavior. Effective treatment programs help individuals overcome addiction and reduce reoffending. Emphasize Restorative Justice Victim-Offender Mediation: Restorative justice programs facilitate dialogue between victims and offenders, fostering understanding and healing while encouraging responsibility and empathy. Community Service: Incorporating community service into sentencing allows offenders to contribute to society and develop responsibility. Prepare for Reintegration Reentry Programs: These provide resources like housing assistance and job placement services, critical for successful reintegration. Mentorship Networks: Establishing mentorship programs offers guidance and emotional support for former inmates navigating reentry challenges. Create Opportunities Employment Support: Securing stable employment is vital for reducing recidivism. Job training programs and partnerships with local businesses create pathways for work. Entrepreneurship Programs: Encouraging entrepreneurship provides individuals with a sense of purpose and self-sufficiency. Foster a Positive Environment Humane Conditions: Ensuring humane living conditions in prisons is fundamental. Safe environments are essential for effective rehabilitation. Supportive Staff: Training staff to adopt a rehabilitative approach creates a positive atmosphere for inmates. We can transform the justice system by ensuring incarcerated individuals leave as better people with opportunities to stay on track. Focusing on rehabilitation, restorative justice, and supportive environments benefits individuals and enhances public safety, paving the way for a more compassionate society. This approach fosters personal change and strengthens communities. #rehabilitation #incarceration #reintegration

Interesting MedPage Today opinion piece on the rights of incarcerated patients and the dininished outcomes they face when receiving healthcare. The piece, authored by Dr. Dan Resnick, MD, from Emory University School of Medicine, and Dr. Mark Spencer, MD, Grady Memorial Hospital suggests that many hospitals have a culture that neglects incarcerated patients' rights which leads to worse outcomes for this population. The authors recommend changes to policies to improve patient care for incarcerated individuals, including: 1) stationing on-duty guards at the door, not in the room, to end violation of patient privacy 2) acknowledging harms of prophylactic shackling of incarcerated patients 3) increasing coordination between guard and hospital security and document why restraints are needed if there is a security concern 4) allowing medical staff to contact next of kin to provide updates and obtain collateral information 5) and allowing medical staff to engage with their legal team to explore options for medical release from detention. Some of these suggestions are outside the hospitals control, and would need to be addressed by the corrections agency, but I am curious what #healthcaresecurity practicioners think. International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) ASIS International Anthony (Tony) Pope, CHPA

From health care access to housing stability, addressing the needs of older adults leaving incarceration is essential for their successful reentry. Explore how communities are addressing these needs & promoting successful reentry.

Transitions from prison to society are a major issue for healthcare. What if we signed up inmates for Medicaid BEFORE they are released? --- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently authorized 5 states to provide Medicaid coverage to people transitioning out of incarceration before they leave (announcement in the comments). The five new states are: -Illinois -Kentucky -Oregon -Utah -Vermont This #HealthPolicy is relatively new despite the issue being known for years. California was the first to get approval for this policy in January last year. --- I remember first hearing about this issue in detail from a Tradeoffs podcast in early 2023 (also in the comments). Like all good stories, the podcast highlighted the experience of one man as as an example of the thousands each year that transition out of prison and have no support for their healthcare or finances. --- The bigger barrier seems to be implementing these policies. The idea is straightforward, but getting #Medicaid and the prison system to effectively coordinate their separate systems will take lots of time and communication. It's never as easy as it sounds... --- Transitions are where problems pop up and people get lost (just like in healthcare). Did you think states were already doing this? Is there a better way to support the transition from #incarceration?

📢 New resources from the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) to provide better care to people who are incarcerated: -An 18-month Learning Collaborative for 5 states with pending or approved section 1115 demonstration waivers: https://lnkd.in/eRJPRPvT -A new blog highlights the requirement in 2026 to require ALL STATES to suspend, rather than terminate, Medicaid coverage when people are incarcerated. https://lnkd.in/eMYY8GqV