Marjorie T. Scher, Associate in the Health Care & Life Sciences practice, in the firms New York office, was quoted in Law360 Healthcare Authority, in “Will Medicaid Incarceration Waivers Hit 'Cutting Room Floor'?” by Mark Payne. (Read the full version – subscription required.)
Following is an excerpt:
A bipartisan push to get incarcerated individuals covered by Medicaid before they're released could drastically reduce healthcare disparities and provide health equity to underrepresented populations. But shifting political winds and an upcoming election could lead to budget cuts that put the program on the "cutting room floor." …
At the very minimum, the waiver program will help covered individuals not have to navigate Medicaid eligibility and the enrollment process alone, according to Marjorie T. Scher, an associate at Epstein Becker Green. For those enrolled, it means they can reenter the community with an assigned primary care doctor, care coordinator, or other interventions to manage healthcare.
"The Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration opportunity is one of the most inventive and useful Biden administration medicaid innovations," Scher said.
The program could also significantly affect hospitals treating uninsured individuals with uncompensated or charity care. Hospitals in participating states could see lower numbers relying on the generosity of hospitals.
"In state Medicaid programs with effective chronic care management or other similar programs, hospitals may also see reduced the volume of non-emergent or recurring ER visits as an individual's reentry plan could include a care team to manage chronic health conditions in the community instead of the ER," Scher said.
