Supervisors Push to End Medicaid Suspension for the Incarcerated » Urban Milwaukee

Milwaukee County Jail. Jeramey Jannene’s photo.

Being arrested but not convicted of a crime can cut a person off from health care, and Milwaukee County Board members are calling on the federal government to change that.

Under federal law, Medicaid cannot cover health care costs for someone who is incarcerated. In Wisconsin, this historically meant that anyone incarcerated in a prison or even awaiting trial in a prison lost Badger Care.

In 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, the state changed its policy For people who are detained in prison but have not been convicted of any crime. Health benefits will no longer be terminated, but instead suspended. The difference is that coverage is lost but registration with Badger Care is not lost. But the individual I still have to file a report with the state when they go out to continue coverage.

Support. Justin Bielinski He sponsored a resolution that would direct lobbyists in the county to demand a change in federal law that would allow anyone incarcerated before trial to retain health insurance. The resolution is currently co-sponsored by six other auditors: Anne O’Connor, Sky Capriolo, Caroline Gómez-Tom, Sequanna Taylor, Juan Miguel Martinez And Steven Shea.

The state’s policy change four years ago was aimed at improving access to health care and making reentry into society easier. The same logic applies to this decision; auditors simply want federal policy changed to ensure that no one loses access to health care simply because they are arrested and held in prison without being convicted of a crime.

“Pretrial detention or involvement in the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts individuals from marginalized communities, particularly low-income and communities of color, and the loss of federal health care benefits exacerbates existing disparities in access to essential health care,” Bielenski’s ruling said.

The policy proposed by Bielinski is also supported by the National Association of Counties and the National Sheriff’s Association. Academics, advocacy groups, and elected officials have also advocated for the complete elimination of the Medicaid exclusion for incarcerated individuals.

From a federal budget perspective, eliminating the exclusion or suspension would mean that the federal government pays matching funds to state Medicaid plans (like Badger Care in Wisconsin) while at the same time states are already providing health care services to individuals. They were imprisoned.

In 2023, Sen. tammy baldwin introduced Reentry Act of 2023, which would eliminate all Medicaid exclusions during the last 30 days of incarceration. The bill has not been heard yet.

“Restoring federal health care benefits for unconvicted individuals in the Milwaukee County justice system will improve public safety by promoting continuity of care, supporting mental health and substance use treatment, and facilitating successful reintegration into society, thereby reducing recidivism rates.” According to Bielinski’s decision, he chaired the board of directors in December.