Friday, April 1, 2016
Seeking Medicaid Coverage for Inmates, With Help from New York Community Trust
When a person enrolled in Medicaid goes to jail, their benefits under that public health insurance plan are suspended for most services, and many people end up falling through the cracks of the health system upon release. But a state program designed to link inmates to health care providers in the community has motivated legislators to seek new exceptions to the rules.
In this case, the neighborhood providers are health homes, which are designed to help high-needs Medicaid enrollees access not only primary care and mental health services but also basics like transportation and housing. Health homes receive lists of Medicaid beneficiaries from the state indicating who they’re responsible for serving, but tracking them down isn’t always easy. . .