U.S. House reintroduces legislation to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy

Key Takeaways

Two bipartisan bills aimed at addressing the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) were recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 1, lawmakers reintroduced the Reentry Act (H.R.2586), following the reintroduction of the Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510) earlier this year. Both bills seek to improve health care access for justice-involved individuals.

What does this legislation do?

These pieces of legislation each amend the MIEP, a federal statute that revokes access to federal health benefits upon arrest, by ensuring continuity of care through improved access to critical health services for individuals as they enter and exit the justice system. More specifically:

• The Due Process Continuity of Care Act (H.R. 1510) would allow pretrial detainees to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state and provide $50 million in planning grant dollars to states and localities for implementing the MIEP repeal, improving the quality of care provided in jails and enhancing the number of available providers to treat this population.
• The Reentry Act (H.R.2586) would allow Medicaid payment for medical services furnished to an eligible incarcerated individual during the 30-day period preceding the individual’s release.

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Impact on counties

Counties operate 2,875 of our nation’s 3,160 local jails, admitting approximately 7.6 million individuals across the United States each year. Under the current policy, we must shoulder the full cost of care for incarcerated individuals who would otherwise be eligible for federal benefits, disproportionately burdening county governments and leaving a significant gap in care for individuals with complex health needs.

These bipartisan bills would greatly improve care coordination in local jails and would reduce the healthcare costs pushed onto counties. They would also make it easier for counties to provide effective behavioral health treatments and services necessary for smooth transitions to community care, lower recidivism rates and a reduced risk of overdose post-release. NACo continues to support this reintroduced legislation, and we stand ready to work with Congress to implement these important reforms.