CMS approves novel Medicaid demonstration for California 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday approved the first Medicaid demonstration to provide a limited set of health care services to justice-involved individuals before they are released. The California demonstration will cover substance-use treatment before a Medicaid beneficiary is released from a jail, prison or youth correctional facility and help connect the person to community-based Medicaid providers 90 days before their release. 
 
“This is the first time in history Medicaid will be providing coverage to justice-involved individuals before they’re released,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “It is a step forward in closing gaps in services this underserved community experiences, and I encourage other states to follow California’s lead.”