Medicaid Reentry Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-285
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2021-02-08
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Community life and organization

Congressional oversight

Correctional facilities and imprisonment

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Government studies and investigations

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Licensing and registrations

Medicaid

Medicare

Mental health

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-08
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Medicaid Reentry Act</strong> <b><b>of 2021</b></b></p> <p>This bill allows Medicaid payment for medical services furnished&nbsp;to an&nbsp;incarcerated individual&nbsp;during the 30-day period preceding the individual's release. The Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission must report on specified information relating to the accessibility and quality of health care for incarcerated individuals, including the impact of the bill's changes. </p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 285 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 8, 2021 Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Braun , Mr. Whitehouse , and Mr. Brown ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to make medical assistance available to inmates during the 30-day period preceding their release.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicaid Reentry Act of 2021 . 2. Allowing for medical assistance under Medicaid for inmates during 30-day period preceding release (a) In general The subdivision (A) following paragraph (30) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(a) ) is amended by inserting and except during the 30-day period preceding the date of release of such individual from such public institution after medical institution . (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the Medicaid inmate exclusion under the subdivision (A) following paragraph (30) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(a) ). Such report shall, to the extent practicable, include the following information: (1) Provision of care in correctional settings An analysis and description of standards for health and safety for individuals who are inmates of correctional facilities, the health care provided to such individuals, and the physical environment in which health care is provided to such individuals, which may include the following: (A) An assessment of access to health care for incarcerated individuals, including a description of medical and behavioral health services generally available to incarcerated individuals. (B) An assessment of Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation for hospitals, psychiatric facilities, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, nursing facilities, and other relevant provider types, if any, and their potential application to health care services furnished to individuals who are inmates of correctional facilities. (C) An assessment of State licensing and certification standards, processes, and enforcement mechanisms for correctional facilities, and the potential application of such standards, processes, and enforcement mechanisms to the provision of health care to individuals who are inmates of correctional facilities. (D) An assessment of accrediting bodies for correctional facilities, the respective accrediting standards of such bodies, and the accrediting practices relevant to health care services provided by correctional facilities to individuals who are inmates of such facilities, in comparison to major community health care facility accrediting bodies. (2) Impact of the Medicaid Reentry Act; recommendations for additional action (A) The number of incarcerated individuals who would otherwise be eligible to enroll for medical assistance under a State plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such a plan). (B) An analysis of the preliminary impact of the amendment made by subsection (a) on health care coverage and the transition back into the community for individuals who are newly released from correctional facilities. (C) A description of current practices related to the discharge of incarcerated individuals, including how correctional facilities interact with State Medicaid agencies to ensure that such individuals who are eligible to enroll for medical assistance under a State plan or waiver described in subparagraph (A) are so enrolled. (D) If determined appropriate by the Commission, recommendations for Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, or States on further legislative or administrative actions to— (i) ensure access to comprehensive health coverage for incarcerated and newly released individuals, including an assessment of the impact of the Medicaid inmate exclusion; and (ii) better facilitate an effective transition to community services and addiction treatment for newly released individuals. (E) Any other information that the Commission determines would be useful to Congress.