Continuous healthcare coverage for incarcerated individuals pre- and post-reentry into the community is a critical tool in their success. In a recent victory, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Vermont to provide Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to those transitioning out of incarceration before they’re released, the agency announced last week.
“This decision should facilitate a smoother transition for individuals from prison treatment to community care, enhancing re-entry success, overdose prevention, and reducing recidivism rates,” Hans Morefield, CEO of CHESS Health said.
Meghann is grateful to have been asked by the author to contribute a voice of lived experience to both articles on the topic. Read below to learn more about this important issue.
For a fuller look at the importance of reentry healthcare, with quotes from both Meghann and Dr. Haner Hernandez, both voices of lived experience, read a longer article on the topic below.