Nebraska In-Reach Services for Justice Involved Individuals Program - Abstract: Nebraska In-Reach Services for Justice Involved Individuals Program The Nebraska In-Reach Services for Justice Involved Individuals Program, administered by the Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care (MLTC) under the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), seeks funding through opportunity number CMS-2T2-25-001, “State Planning Grant to Promote Continuity of Care for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Following Incarceration.” This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for youth transitioning back to the community after secure detention. In accordance with Section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023, Nebraska is mandated to provide targeted case management, screening, and diagnostic services thirty (30) days before release for eligible post-adjudicated juveniles considered “inmates of public institutions.” Following the enactment of Legislative Bill 921 in 2022, which mandates pre-release Medicaid enrollment for incarcerated individuals, MLTC has initiated processes to streamline Medicaid applications and eligibility determinations. The program addresses significant barriers such as inefficient manual enrollment processes, resource constraints, and insufficient coordination with carceral facilities. By leveraging data-sharing mechanisms through the Nebraska Criminal Justice Information System (NCJIS) and enhancing interagency collaboration, the program seeks to improve health outcomes for youth transitioning from incarceration. Key goals for project activities include: (1) conducting a statewide needs assessment to establish a baseline for this population and identify gaps, and aligning stakeholders with clear reporting structures and communication channels; (2) increasing data-sharing mechanisms to facilitate seamless information exchange; (3) enhancing infrastructure to integrate systems for seamless Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and care coordination; and (4) supporting carceral facilities’ capacity to bill Medicaid with training and technical assistance for pre-release services. MLTC aims to enhance healthcare access and continuity for justice-involved youth. To accomplish these activities, DHHS seeks $2.8 million in total funding over the four-year performance period to develop operational capabilities and address barriers to providing continuous care for individuals transitioning from incarceration.
