͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
͏
[ [link removed] ]Dream.org logo: a purple letter D and an orange letter O intersecting
John,
Imagine this: your doctor delivers life-changing news—a devastating
diagnosis. Your health is failing, work hours are cut, and your future
feels uncertain. But you have Medicaid, your lifeline to the care you
need.
Then, the unthinkable happens. You’re accused of a crime, unable to afford
bail, and held in jail awaiting trial. Suddenly, the Medicaid you relied
on disappears. Why? Because under the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy
(MIEP), incarceration—even without a conviction of guilty—means losing
your healthcare. Stripped of coverage at the moment you need it most. This
is reality for thousands of Americans every year and it must stop.
[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress that applying MIEP to people who haven’t been convicted
of a crime is not right: Sign the petition to support the Due Process
Continuity of Care Act.
Sign the Petition
MIEP was meant to prevent states from shifting incarcerated individuals’
medical costs to the federal government, but it has had devastating
consequences. Around 69% of people in city and county jails—roughly
450,000 individuals—are in pretrial detention, not because they’ve been
convicted, but because they can’t afford bail. Yet, the moment they’re
behind bars, federal law strips them of the healthcare they previously
had.
That alone is alarming, but the deeper truth is even worse—MIEP is
actively harming the health and safety of those awaiting trial:
* Healthcare Disruptions – Many incarcerated individuals suffer from
chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and substance use
disorders. MIEP disrupts their access to treatment, leading to worse
health outcomes.
* High Overdose Risk Post-Release – Studies show that individuals
leaving incarceration are 129 times more likely to die from a drug
overdose in the first two weeks after release due to a lack of
continuity in care.
* Increased Recidivism – Without access to healthcare, including mental
health and addiction treatment, individuals are more likely to end up
back in the criminal justice system.
The Due Process Continuity of Care Act hopes to close this blaring
loophole; it would amend MIEP to ensure that legally innocent individuals
maintain access to Medicaid — guaranteeing they get their healthcare needs
addressed even while awaiting trial.
[ [link removed] ]Bail or jail, no one deserves to lose Medicaid coverage without due
process.
Dream.Org, through its Public Health is Public Safety campaign, is working
alongside key allies to end punitive drug and criminal justice policies
that punish rather than treat those struggling with substance use. Time
and again, punishment-first approaches have failed—worsening the crisis
instead of solving it.
A vast majority of people in pretrial detention come from vulnerable,
low-income communities. They can’t afford bail, many struggle with mental
and physical health issues, and substance use disorders are common. Yet,
MIEP strips them of critical healthcare, harming both their well-being and
burdening state and local governments.
MIEP is not just cruel—it’s a denial of due process. It’s time to end it.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition and tell your lawmakers to act now.
Stand Up for Due Process
In solidarity,
— Dream.Org
[ ] [ ]
[ [link removed] ]A purple letter D and an orange letter O intersecting above the word
Dream.org
Making dreams real – together
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]
Copyright © 2022 Dream.org
436 14th St, Suite 920
Oakland, CA 94612
