New Law Expands Health Care Access for Formerly Incarcerated Youth

A new federal law, effective January 1, 2025, aims to provide Medicaid and CHIP coverage for young people leaving incarceration, ensuring they receive medical and mental health services as they re-enter society. The law applies to youth up to age 21, and former foster youth up to age 26, offering 30 days of medical and dental screenings before release and continued case management for 30 days after.

Advocates argue that access to health care reduces recidivism, as many former inmates struggle with mental health conditions and substance abuse. Studies show that gaps in care increase the risk of reoffending or experiencing a mental health crisis.

While states work to implement the law, challenges remain. Many correctional facilities lack Medicaid billing systems, and compliance could take years. The federal government has allocated $100 million in grants to help states adapt.

For former inmates like Valentino Valdez, who cycled through foster care and juvenile detention, proper health care could have made a critical difference. Now diagnosed with PTSD, he sees treatment as key to his stability and future success.

Source: NPR