People exercise in the prison yard at San Quentin State Prison in 2023. Cuts to Medicaid imperil services that help the formerly incarcerated with substance use and other health issues.

In California, a significant number of incarcerated people struggle with substance use and/or mental health conditions. Studies estimate that 60% of individuals in our state prisons have a substance use disorder and over half of those in county jails have mental health needs.

While incarcerated people receive a range of behavioral health and medical services such as intake screening, psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention, medication management and therapy, the period immediately after release can be perilous.

A study from Washington state found that in the first two weeks post-release, individuals are 12 times more likely to die and 129 times more likely to die from overdose compared to the general population. Setting up rapid, coordinated connections to care is therefore critical, not only to save lives, but to ensure treatment continuity, prevent hospitalization and reduce the risk of re-arrest.

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In 2023, California became the first state approved to offer Medicaid services for people transitioning from incarceration to the community and now offers key health services to eligible individuals in state........

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