Shapiro Admin Invests in Medicaid to Improve Services for Leaving Incarceration | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget includes $900,000 in state funds to invest in a reentry supports pilot program to improve transitions from State Correctional Institutions

Reentry support programs can reduce overdose deaths and recidivism, saving lives and reducing costs to taxpayers

Greensburg, PA - As part of the Shapiro Administration's work to improve rates of reentry and reduce recidivism across the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today emphasized the importance of Governor Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal that invests $900,000 for the Investments in Health pilot program. This program will provide pre-release Medicaid services for individuals with high-risk health conditions who are leaving State Correctional Institutions and connect them to intensive case management post-release, resulting in improved health, more seamless coordination with local resources, and reduced recidivism.

During a visit to the Westmoreland Community Action's Transitional Housing Program, Secretary Arkoosh and Westmoreland County leadership toured the facility and discussed reentry supports with local leaders. Secretary Arkoosh shared how the Investments in Health program will provide access to health care and services like substance use disorder care and medication to those leaving incarceration, helping ease their return to their communities and saving lives.

"As a former County Commissioner, I have seen firsthand how essential it is that we provide targeted reentry services that address a person's individual needs and give them the best chance to succeed when they transition from incarceration back to their communities. Starting that planning before discharge and embedding a person's health needs in this process is a proven strategy that makes successful, sustainable returns possible," said Secretary Arkoosh. "By making strategic investments through the Medicaid program, we have an opportunity to connect returning Pennsylvanians to services before they leave an SCI, lowering the risk of overdose, improving public safety, and reducing the chance that people will recidivate."

In Pennsylvania, nearly two-thirds of returning citizens recidivate within 16 months of leaving an SCI, incurring societal costs of $3.1 billion annually. The proposed investment of state funds for reentry supports allows Pennsylvania to leverage additional federal matching funds, which will bring total funding to $2.7 million. Reducing recidivism changes lives, benefits communities, and saves money - even a five percent reduction in recidivism would save approximately $2 million for the Commonwealth.

Investments in Health's reentry initiative would provide services starting 90 days prior to release, allow qualifying returning citizens to connect to substance use disorder care, a Medicaid managed care plan, and intensive case management that will connect them to community-based services that are essential to a successful reentry, like finding housing or a job. The pilot will focus on returning citizens with substance use disorder, serious mental illness, chronic illnesses, and autism as well as pregnant women.

The Investments in Health program will provide funding in three key areas:

• Reentry Supports: $900,000 in state funds to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.7 million that will support a set of pre-release Medicaid services for incarcerated individuals returning to their communities from State Correctional Institutions.

• Food is Medicine: $900,000 in state funds to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.3 million to support a pilot program that will bring medically tailored meals to Medicaid recipients with diet-sensitive health conditions.

• Housing Stability: $1 million in state funding to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.5 million to launch a pilot that will help Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness connect to stable housing and services.

"Thank you to Secretary Arkoosh and the Department of Human Services for visiting Westmoreland County. This reentry pilot program focuses on providing pre-release Medicaid services and post-release case management for individuals with substance use disorder, mental illness, and other high-risk conditions. We appreciate the state's efforts to address recidivism and support successful transitions back into our communities," said Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Building on Three Years of Progress

Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, the Shapiro-Davis Administration has advanced initiatives to ease reentry to communities and expand options for those seeking clemency and pardons including:

• Expanding services to provide people returning to the workforce from the justice system with on-the-spot birth certificates, helping to remove a significant barrier that can stand in the way of work, training, housing, and reentry.

• Expanding safe and responsible AI use across state government by using AI to assist with transferring information from handwritten applications for clemency into the Board of Pardons online tracking system. 

• In December 2023, Governor Shapiro signed "Clean Slate" legislation to streamline the process for pardoned Pennsylvanians to clear their criminal records.

• In July 2023, the Board of Pardons expanded its "expedited review" process for pardon applicants to make it more efficient, providing applicants with a clear and transparent process to follow. Started in 2025, applicants no longer need to request expedited review; Board staff automatically review all applications for eligibility.

• In the 2023-24 state budget, the Shapiro-Davis Administration invested $355,000 into a dedicated clemency unit within the Department of Corrections to address a backlog of applications for pardons and commutations.

Read more about Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal.