Returning to the Community: Health Care After Incarceration
Topics:
Health Policy
Mental Health
Substance Use Treatment
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health have joined together to release Returning to the Community: Health Care After Incarceration, a new Coverage to Care (C2C) resource to support individuals upon release and reentering the community to connect to health coverage and health services.
This guide will assist individuals upon release and reentering the community to better understand their health care needs, including physical and behavioral health. The guide includes key information, terms, people, and titles to help connect to health care services pre- and post-release; information about insurance coverage types and how to apply; and tips to get started using health coverage to receive needed services to support a successful reentry and healthy life.
Based on community and peer feedback, OJP and CMS worked together to create this resource to help fill a gap and give people returning to the community information that can support their ability to advocate for needed services and coverage.