Letter to Idaho Congress members supports bills for incarcerated Medicaid access

Eleven organizations, including the Idaho Association of Public Health District Directors, signed on to a letter to Idaho’s Congressional delegation supporting legislation that would expand Medicaid access for people in jail and in prison in hopes of reducing overdose deaths.

The letter called out two bills — the Reentry Act and Due Process Continuity of Care Act — that “have the ability to reverse the increasing trend in overdose rates and save lives in our state.”

The Reentry Act lets people who are eligible receive Medicaid 30 days before being released from jail or prison, according to a Johns Hopkins University article, which said that this prevents overdose deaths after release and reduces recidivism. More than 125 organizations support the Reentry Act, the article said.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act would let people remain eligible for Medicaid until they are convicted, Johns Hopkins said. Over 65 organizations support that bill, the university said.

“These pieces of legislation would increase the availability of substance use disorder treatment for incarcerated individuals,” the letter said. “We believe these changes would greatly improve the health and wellbeing of Idahoans, ultimately reducing overdose deaths and improving the overall safety of our state.”

Death by drug overdose is the “fastest growing cause of death among incarcerated individuals,” the letter said, citing a 2021 report by the Department of Justice.

“The lack of care provided in carceral settings leaves substance use disorder untreated, and newly released individuals more likely to experience a fatal overdose. Access to treatment within Idaho’s jails and prisons and ensuring continuity of care post-release is critical to overdose prevention,” the letter said.