Two bills that Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) supports are stuck in committee, and we need your help to get them moving! Tell your representatives that HR 2400 and S 1165 are important to families affected by severe mental illness.

These bills would pass the Reentry Act of 2023 to allow states to make medical assistance available to inmates during the 30-day period preceding their release.

Use TAC's email templates below by visiting the Action Center to send a message to your legislators to urge them to support the passage of these bills.

S 1165 is a bill that proposes amendments to title XIX of the Social Security Act, allowing states to provide medical assistance to inmates during the 30-day period before their release. The proposal aims to enhance health coverage and transition back into the community for individuals who are newly released from correctional facilities. As part of the proposal, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission is required to submit a report to Congress 18 months after enactment, outlining standards for health and safety, the types of healthcare provided to inmates, the physical conditions under which this healthcare is provided, as well as other observations such as assessments of access, Medicare and Medicaid conditions, and state licensing standards. The bill also calls for recommendations on additional legislative or administrative actions to ensure comprehensive health coverage for inmates and those recently released.

HR 2400 is a bill titled the "Reentry Act of 2023," proposes an amendment to title XIX of the Social Security Act, specifically allowing States to provide medical assistance to inmates in the 30-day period prior to their release. This amendment enables inmates to have access to medical and healthcare services as they transition back into their communities, ensuring their well-being and reducing the likelihood of re-offending. In addition, the bill requires the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to conduct a study and report to Congress within 18 months of the enactment of the Act. The report should detail the state of health care in correctional facilities and the impact of this amendment. It should also assess access to health care within these settings, the appropriateness of health care standards and enforcement, and the effect of such medical assistance on the successful transition of inmates back into the community. The expectation is that this report will guide future legislative or administrative actions to enhance access to comprehensive health coverage for incarcerated individuals and improve the effectiveness of their transition into community services post-release.