CLASP submitted a public comment in support of Louisiana’s Section 1115 request to offer Medicaid-covered services to individuals 90-days prior to their release from incarceration from a public institution. We applauded the demonstration’s relatively broad eligibility criteria and use of the maximum pre-release eligibility period allowed by CMS. However, we also expressed concern over certain aspects of Louisiana’s implementation plan and asked CMS to consider these areas for improvement before approving the state’s waiver request:

• Include Medicaid-eligible individuals, in addition to Medicaid-enrolled, CHIP-enrolled, and CHIP-eligible individuals;
• Explain how the state plans to protect the sensitive health data of systems-impacted individuals and ensure such data are not used for correctional, research, or surveillance purposes without explicit, uncoerced, and informed consent from enrollees;
• Ensure meaningful engagement of community advocates, providers, and a diverse cohort of justice-involved individuals at all stages of designing and implementing.

>> Read the full comment here