The proposed bill, titled "The Medicaid Reentry Act," aims to amend Title 42 of the General Laws by adding Chapter 56.4, which focuses on maintaining Medicaid enrollment for individuals incarcerated in adult correctional institutions or juvenile correctional facilities. The bill emphasizes the importance of access to same-day and next-day physical and behavioral health services for successful reentry into the community.

It mandates that Medicaid enrollment be maintained for the first thirty days of incarceration for those already enrolled. If an individual is not enrolled in Medicaid upon incarceration, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Corrections, is required to determine the individual's eligibility and enroll them in Medicaid upon entry into the correctional system, with their enrollment maintained throughout the first thirty days of incarceration.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Department of Corrections should notify the Executive Office of Health and Human Services of an individual's upcoming release to facilitate the transition back to active Medicaid status. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is also required to apply for a demonstration waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act to provide Medicaid benefits to qualified inmates for at least thirty days prior to their release.

This initiative aims to ensure that individuals have access to necessary health services as they reintegrate into society. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.