State Policy·CA·12:32 PM MT
California's Medi-Cal program is providing pre-release services to individuals exiting jails and prisons, including health care, housing assistance, and support services. The initiative aims to improve continuity of care and health outcomes for justice-involved populations transitioning back to communities. The services are available to Medi-Cal enrollees before their release from correctional facilities. This expansion reflects California's implementation of federal guidance allowing states to provide Medicaid services to incarcerated individuals up to 90 days before release, addressing a historically underserved population with complex health and social needs.
Why it mattersPre-release Medicaid enrollment and care coordination can reduce emergency department utilization, improve medication adherence, and decrease recidivism among justice-involved populations, which represent significant cost and quality improvement opportunities for managed care organizations.
State Policy·CA·12:32 PM MT
California's Medi-Cal program is providing pre-release services to individuals exiting jails and prisons, connecting them to health care, housing, and supportive services before release. The initiative targets justice-involved Medicaid enrollees to improve continuity of care and reduce recidivism. Services include care coordination, medication access, and discharge planning while individuals are still incarcerated. The program reflects California's use of federal flexibilities allowing Medicaid coverage up to 90 days before release from correctional facilities.
Why it mattersManaged care organizations in California must coordinate with correctional facilities to deliver pre-release services, requiring new provider networks, care management workflows, and data systems to identify and engage justice-involved enrollees before release.
State Policy·3:00 AM MT
Several states that use state-only funds to cover healthcare for undocumented immigrants are reducing or eliminating those programs due to budget constraints. The cuts follow federal Medicaid funding reductions and the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. States affected include those that previously expanded coverage beyond federal eligibility requirements using state general funds. The reductions take effect as states finalize their fiscal year 2027 budgets, with some changes beginning as early as July 2026.
Why it mattersMCOs operating in states with immigrant coverage programs may see membership declines and increased uncompensated care costs as enrollees lose state-funded coverage and shift to emergency Medicaid or become uninsured.