BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health announced on Friday that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved Louisiana's 115 Reentry Demonstration, allowing the state to receive Federal Financial Participation for providing Medicaid pre-release services to incarcerated individuals. 

Louisiana is one of three states receiving new demonstration approvals as part of CMS's national initiative to strengthen continuity of care for individuals returning to their communities.

The new demonstration will allow both Medicaid-required and state-defined coverage for specific services during the 60 days prior to an individual's release, removing gaps in care currently created by the existing inmate exclusion. 

LDH plans to launch the demonstration at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in early 2027, followed by the remaining state prisons and participating parish jails. 

“Approval of this waiver will strengthen public safety by creating a smoother transition from incarceration to critical community-based services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment,” said Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott. “Connecting individuals with care before they return to their communities gives them a better opportunity to succeed, reduce recidivism, and, ultimately, prevent future victimization.”

The demonstration will also improve coordination between correctional and community providers, with case managers supporting participants through pre-release services, scheduling post-release appointments and facilitating handoffs to community care teams. 

Medicaid-covered services during the 60 days prior to release include medication-assisted treatment and substance use disorder counseling, a 30-day supply of prescription medications upon release, behavioral health assessments and treatment, laboratory and diagnostic services and durable medical equipment.