NYAPRS Note: In order to reach yet another on time April budget agreement, negotiators for the Governor, Senate and Assembly have been meeting throughout the weekend and are hoping to announce a deal much later tonight, allowing the typical 3 day review process. NYAPRS is awaiting the outcome of our push for a minimum wage hike (see next posting), the restoration of the $5.5 million cut to Community Reinvestment funding, to expand Crisis Intervention and diversion initiatives, to extend $75 million in Health Care Facility Transformation funds to non-hospital community providers and to extend Medicaid to ‘high needs’ individuals 30 days before they are released from prisons and jails, an issue that has gotten increased attention from negotiators (see below).
Stay tuned for more announcements later in the day, or late tonight.
N.Y. Assembly Proposes Medicaid Coverage for Freed Inmates
Associated Press NY Daily News March 26, 2016
The proposal is in the Assembly’s budget plan for the fiscal year starting April 1. The Assembly, the state Senate and Gov. Cuomo are negotiating a final budget.
New York’s Assembly has proposed Medicaid coverage for “high needs” state prison and local jail inmates starting 30 days before their release.
The lawmakers say the plan would ensure that the inmates can get prescription medications and services to keep them from relapsing and returning.
The proposal is in the Assembly’s budget plan for the fiscal year starting April 1. The Assembly, the state Senate and Gov. Cuomo are negotiating a final budget.
New York expanded discharge planning for inmates last year.
Advocates say the lack of services remains one of the biggest reasons so many released prisoners are quickly locked up again.