Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
The District of Columbia state Medicaid Agency, the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), seeks funding through opportunity number CMS-2T2-25-001 “State Planning Grant to Promote Continuity of Care for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Following Incarceration” to improve outcomes for youth transitioning back to the community after secure detention. Section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023 requires the District to provide targeted case management, screening, and diagnostic services thirty (30) days prior to release for eligible post-adjudicated juveniles considered “inmates of a public institutions.” These requirements, along with new 1115 waiver flexibility for broader in-reach services outlined in SMD 23-003 allow Medicaid, for the first time, to provide services to incarcerated individuals in the critical pre-release time frame. Due to system complexity, historical prohibitions, and capacity issues, there is significant opportunity to improve community transitions and improve outcomes for returning citizens. The state planning grant funding will support District efforts to: 1. Improve eligibility and enrollment processing and infrastructure to ensure that all eligible individuals can receive services, and do so in a timely manner; 2. Build the technological capacity for transmission of information to support the implementation of section 5121 requirements; and 3. Build the staff capacity to facilitate the implementation of section 5121 requirements and the delivery of high-quality, person-centered services. These goals require close collaboration with the District’s justice system partners, particularly the District agencies that oversee secure detention facilities housing eligible juveniles. In the District, these agencies include the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) and the DC Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). DOC and DYRS will be sub-awardees of this grant. The District is requesting $2,887,052 over the four (4)-year performance period of the grant. The funding will be used to add staff positions, build technology infrastructure, and provide critical technical assistance for rendering providers for the sole purpose of successfully implementing the requirements outlined in section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023.,This support will allow the District achieve the above-mentioned goals and ultimately to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth as they transition back to the community.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).