Governor Lamont Announces Federal Approval of Health Initiative for Justice-Involved Individuals

CMS To Continue Federal Reimbursement of Residential Substance Use Treatment

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the State of Connecticut's proposal to initiate Medicaid coverage 60 days before eligible individuals are released from correctional facilities.

Federal rules long barred Medicaid from covering people while they were incarcerated. The Connecticut Department of Social Services and Connecticut Department of Correction saw this as a barrier to helping people succeed after release. This initiative will help justice-involved individuals manage chronic health concerns, including substance use disorders, by creating and strengthening connections among carceral settings, state agencies, health and social service entities, and community groups.

"Since taking office, my administration has worked to expand access to high-quality health care for people across Connecticut," Governor Lamont said. "This initiative will help ensure folks continue receiving medical care, mental health services, and substance use treatment as they return to the community. Connecting people to care before their release can save lives, support successful reentry, and help build safer, more stable communities."

In addition to approving this initiative for justice-involved individuals, CMS stated that Connecticut will continue to receive federal reimbursement for HUSKY members' residential and inpatient substance use treatment, which has been in effect since April 2022.

Both the justice-involved health initiative and substance use treatment reimbursement program will be led by the Connecticut Department of Social Services as the state Medicaid agency, in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and the Court Support Services Division of the Connecticut Judicial Branch.

"This approval is a significant step for people and families across Connecticut," Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said. "By covering treatment for substance use disorders and connecting people to health care and other services before they leave incarceration, we can help them stay healthy and rebuild their lives in their communities. I am grateful to our partners at the Department of Correction, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Judicial Branch, and to everyone who shared their input."

"Quality health care is an important part of a successful return to the community," Connecticut Department of Correction Commissioner Sharonda Carlos said. "For the 12,000 adults and 650 adolescents released from Connecticut's correctional facilities each year, this initiative means people will leave our facilities with the support they need to take their medications, keep their appointments, and lead productive lives-with the goal of not reentering the justice system. This will make a real difference in the lives of those returning residents. Our goal as an agency is to help our population not return to our facilities in the future."

"Successful reentry and recovery are aided by a warm hand-off and connection to behavioral health care in the community," Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Nancy Navarretta said. "Linking people to care before they come home will help keep them connected to treatment and support their recovery."

"Young people and adults in our court-involved population often have health needs that go unmet when they transition back to the community," Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division Executive Director Gary Roberge said. "This approval will help us work with our partners to connect people to care sooner and provide the stability that helps them succeed."

The Lamont administration worked closely with legislative leaders to pursue these proposals over the past several years.

"One-third of Connecticut incarcerated individuals have active mental health disorders that require ongoing treatment, and 90% have a history of or a current substance use disorder," State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said. "Connecticut's ability to secure a Medicaid waiver for these individuals who are about to re-enter society is going to make that transition safer and more successful for everyone."

"I am so very excited that the Justice Involved Waiver has been approved," State Representative Toni Walker (D-New Haven), co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said. "We have so many people with mental health and substance use needs that never get addressed, and without the right intervention, that creates a cycle of re-incarceration. Any time we can get this kind of support, particularly for our children, it means one more child who may make it out of that destructive cycle."

"The Justice Involved Waiver has been a long time coming. It represents a major step forward in repairing lives and reducing recidivism," State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), co-chair of the Human Services Committee, said. "It allows us to bring in federal dollars to connect the formerly incarcerated to mental health and substance abuse treatment resources they need to successfully reintegrate into society. I congratulate Commissioner Barton-Reeves, Governor Lamont, and all the staff and agencies that worked on this waiver for this significant accomplishment."

"We should be doing all we can to ensure people in Connecticut are supported when they leave incarceration," State Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), co-chair of the Human Services Committee said. "I am so relieved that Connecticut is removing a huge barrier for those entering life after incarceration by providing access to health care, mental health support, and substance use treatment. I am so grateful to the Department of Social Services for their tireless work to see this waiver through."