Sheriffs Urge Support for Medicaid Reentry Act in Coronavirus Relief Package

Today, the National Sheriffs' Association sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to include the Medicaid Reentry Act in the next coronavirus relief package.

NSA President Sheriff Dave Mahoney said, "This legislation will allow Medicaid to cover the last thirty days of medical assistance for incarcerated individuals. This is an important part of the continuum of care for those with medical needs.  In the long run this will reduce recidivism and therefore ease budgetary burdens from the jail system. Our taxpayers deserve that."

The Medicaid Reentry Act would strengthen local agencies’ ability to connect people to critical healthcare as they leave incarceration, including advancing connections to coronavirus testing and treatment and other services needed to protect their health, and ultimately the health of the community.

Including this language in the next COVID-19 response package would take an important step toward improving health outcomes for incarcerated individuals, reducing recidivism, and restoring the federal, state, and local partnership in delivering safety-net benefits.