National Association of Counties
On September 16, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration (Roadmap), which included a major win for counties and our efforts to reform the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP).
The Roadmap outlined plans to submit a report to Congress describing innovative strategies and best practices to help individuals who are currently incarcerated and returning community members ensure continuity of Medicaid coverage and seamless transitions back to the community. The findings will inform the design of a Medicaid 1115 demonstration opportunity to improve care transitions and expand coverage to returning community members.
While the MIEP restricts Medicaid coverage for inmates of public institutions which include jails and prisons, at least six states (Ariz., Calif., Ky., Mont., Utah and Vt.) have sought Section 1115 waiver authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to facilitate Medicaid enrollment prior to their release from carceral settings.
Coordinating access to Medicaid services prior to release from jail or prison has a dramatic impact on behavioral and mental health care continuity, which reduces recidivism and improves health outcomes for individuals that are reentering their communities. Counties recognize Medicaid reentry as an important component in our nation’s behavioral health strategy, and in the larger strategy to reverse the negative impacts of the MIEP. Counties support both regulatory and legislative pathways to advance this policy. In July of 2021, NACo led efforts in calling for the advancement of the bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act (S.285/H.R. 955) alongside 135 local and national stakeholders.
The Roadmap highlights federal policy actions that address identified challenges to behavioral health integration, with a focus on three pillars: strengthening system capacity; connecting Americans to care; and supporting Americans by creating healthy environments. In addition to the Medicaid reentry provision, HHS provided an overview of initiatives the agency has started this year that align with key county behavioral priorities, including:
You can access the entire HHS Behavioral Health Roadmap here.
NACo supports federal policy that works to advance the U.S. behavioral health system and will closely monitor HHS initiatives and Congressional action that impacts the mental health and well-being of our communities. County leaders applaud the federal government for including administrative changes to policies around healthcare access for justice-involved populations and stand ready to work with HHS and Congress to advance policy that removes barriers to care in local jails such as MIEP.
Additionally, on September 30, NACo and the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Disability Directors (NACHBDD) will be hosting a webinar on the outlook for bipartisan action to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion policy (MIEP) for the remainder of the 117th Congress. The webinar will feature an update on legislative developments from key congressional staff and an overview what counties can do now to ensure the passage of this important policy.
Register for the webinar here.
<p>NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative creates and sustains healthy counties by supporting collaboration and sharing evidence-informed approaches to pressing health issues.
<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
