Medicaid Prerelease and Transition Services for Incarcerated Populations

Several states have extended Medicaid coverage for prerelease and transition services to people in prisons and jails through program demonstrations. These services are associated with improved recidivism, post-release employment, cost savings, and fewer overdoses. A recent Milbank Quarterly article by Sanjay Basu and colleagues looked at the size of the potentially eligible population by state, and disease rates within the population, to inform Medicaid agencies’ strategies. The University of Chicago’s Harold Pollack will moderate a discussion with Dr. Basu and state officials from Arizona and California on the article’s findings and policy implementation strategies.