Implementing the Medicaid Reentry Waiver in California Counties: Key Policy and Operational Insights
This webinar will be held via Zoom Webinar. If you have issues registering or accessing the webinar platform, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
Counties have access to new resources to improve community safety and reduce overdose deaths as a result of recent changes to federal Medicaid policy. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have applied for the Medicaid Reentry Demonstration waiver so far and eleven state proposals have been approved as of August 2024.
How will these changes affect your county? Join us to learn what is happening across the country as states and counties begin implementing these substantial systems changes. Key learnings from the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge work with 11 counties in California – the first approved waiver state -- will be shared along with implications for counties across the country.
CMS announces funding to improve the continuity of care for justice-involved individuals
On September 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced $106.5 million in state planning grants aimed at improving healthcare continuity for individuals transitioning from incarceration. These grants, made possible by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2024 (P.L. 118-42), offer critical funding to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies to address operational barriers and develop systems to ensure continuous care for justice-impacted individuals. The funds directly support the implementation of Section 5121 of the CAA, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), which requires states to provide Medicaid and CHIP services to eligible juveniles as they transition out of incarceration beginning January 1, 2025.
Counties dig out from deadly Hurricane Helene
Counties have been coordinating shelters, food and water distribution, information and making efforts to vet or refer people to donation managers in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation across six states.
FEMA lifts Immediate Needs Funding restrictions
On October 1, FEMA lifted the Immediate Needs Funding restrictions that were imposed on place on August 7 to manage the rapidly depleting balance of the Disaster Relief Fund. These restrictions paused funding for non-lifesaving and non-life-sustaining activities, enabling FEMA to focus on urgent disaster response.
Senate Committee advances Disaster Survivors Fairness Act
On Wednesday, September 25, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a markup to consider 16 bills. Among them was the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act (S. 5067), legislation designed to reform federal disaster assistance programs to better support survivors, which passed out of committee with strong bipartisan backing.
CMS proposes rules to increase healthcare access for key populations
On September 9, NACo submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on two key areas: revisions to Medicare’s custody definition and Special Enrollment Period for formerly incarcerated individuals, and updates to crisis stabilization unit payment policies.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advances key bills with NACo’s support
On September 18, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a full committee markup session, voting to advance 29 measures for House floor consideration.