Justice-involved individuals - people who are now, or have spent time, in jails, youth correctional facilities, or prisons - are at
higher risk for injury and death than the general public. They face disproportionate risk of violence, overdose, and suicide.
On January 26, 2023, California became the
first state in the nation approved to offer a targeted set of Medicaid services to youth and eligible adults in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities for up to 90 days prior to release.
Through this Justice-Involved initiative, California is taking significant steps to address poor health outcomes in this population by establishing pre-release Medi-Cal enrollment strategies to ensure individuals have
continuity of coverage upon their release, as well as
access to key services to help them successfully return to their communities.
What this change means for Californians
The Justice-Involved Initiative allows eligible Californians who are incarcerated to enroll in Medi-Cal and receive a targeted set of services in the 90 days before their release. This initiative aims to ensure continuity of health care coverage and services between the time they are incarcerated and when they are released. It also provides people who are reentering the community with the prescribed medications and durable medical equipment (DME) they need, and access to programs and services to support this important transition.