Health and Reentry Project (HARP)

HARP’s Advisory Committee In Action: Next Wednesday 2/19, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian will discuss the intersection of public health and public safety, focusing on the complex challenges of homelessness and the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing these issues. Register here for the virtual event: https://lnkd.in/diEe4EpS 

This KFF Health News piece spotlights a policy shift that is central to our work at HARP—expanding access to care for incarcerated youth and young adults before release and during reentry. These new policies, which took effect January 1, have the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce recidivism by ensuring young people receive critical care as they transition back into their communities. HARP’s Executive Director, Vikki Wachino, and HARP Advisory Committee members Kellie Wasko and Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne, provided key insights in the article on the implementation considerations and opportunities facing the field. For those of you working on implementation, HARP developed resources to support correctional administrators who are implementing the youth continuity of care requirements. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/geUNC2jN Review HARP's implementation resources here: https://lnkd.in/egadWTCg 

HARP’s Advisory Committee In Action: In December, HARP Advisory Committee member Dr. Topeka K. Sam co-hosted the inaugural Women Over Dinner event at Taconic Correctional Prison in New York. Watch to hear Topeka describe the significance of this gathering: https://lnkd.in/e8Vr4gbG

Policy Update: This week, Colorado, Hawaii, and Maryland received federal approval of state Medicaid 1115 reentry demonstration waivers — bringing the total number of approved states to 19. An additional seven states and Washington, DC have proposals pending approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. States across the country are advancing these proposals to build continuity of care as people return to communities, with goals of improving health and public safety. HARP will continue tracking and sharing waiver approval updates. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed: https://lnkd.in/eywGvUb3

HARP Update: Introducing our Advisory Committee We’re excited to announce that last month HARP expanded its Advisory Committee. The Committee brings together leaders from correctional agencies, law enforcement, healthcare, direct service providers, and policy organizations—including individuals directly impacted by the justice system—who bring expertise from local, state, tribal, and national levels.  Their leadership and expertise will help drive HARP’s mission of building healthier, safer communities by improving access to health care as people return to community from incarceration. “We are honored to have these accomplished, dedicated leaders advising HARP as it improves access to health care with a goal of promoting public safety and public health, breaking cycles of incarceration, and helping people successfully rejoin their families and communities. These leaders’ expertise, vision, and commitment are central to HARP’s achieving these goals.” - Vikki Wachino, Founder and Executive Director of HARP You can read our full Advisory Committee announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eJX468bX List of Advisory Committee Members & Strategic Advisors: Don Berwick Lisa Clements PhD Khalil A. Cumberbatch Valerie Davidson Adam Gelb Michelle LaJoye Young Amy Solomon Juliana Stratton, Esq. Whitney Westerfield Tyler Winkelman Pamela Winn Dr. Topeka K. Sam Kellie Wasko Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne Nneka Tapia Mack Jenkins John O'Brien

CMS announced the first round of Medicaid reentry planning grants awards today - congratulations to Alaska, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia! See HARP's recent brief on how states can use reentry grant funding to strengthen care continuity, address health disparities, and foster cross-sector collaboration. CMS will award a second round of grants; states can apply through March 17th.   For more info, visit https://lnkd.in/dmvWiNF3

Policy Update: As of late December, three additional states, Michigan and Arizona (approved on 12/27/24) and Pennsylvania (approved on 12/26/24), received federal approval for their Medicaid 1115 reentry demonstration waivers. This brings the total number of approved states to 16. Meanwhile, Nevada has submitted its proposal, making it the eleventh state, along with Washington, DC, awaiting approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. These waivers aim to ensure continuity of care for individuals transitioning back to their communities after incarceration, with the broader goals of improving both public health and safety. HARP will continue tracking and sharing waiver approval updates. See the updated map below. ICYMI: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided new guidance to states about changes to Medicaid and CHIP rules affecting new national policies affecting incarcerated youth and young adults. Read the FAQs here: https://lnkd.in/eYy-mm9p

Data sharing across correctional and community systems is complex and laden with risk, but failure to share data entails risk as well given the vital role data plays in effective pre- and post-release services to support youth during a particularly unsafe period. Thus, data sharing partners must not shy away from the admittedly hard work of navigating these challenges. Rather, partners must work towards effective and equitable cross-sector data sharing, recognizing the value of disclosure and the imperative of safeguarding privacy. This work necessitates community-driven, empowering data sharing that protects against further entanglement of punitive systems in health and social care. In ­𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, Network attorney Emma Kaeser, J.D., discuss how with recent changes to Medicaid and CHIP, as well as the approval of Medicaid section 1115 reentry waivers, states are working to mitigate the harms of incarceration by addressing the health and social needs of youth returning to their communities from confinement. This resource is intended to assist states navigating data sharing challenges that may arise in implementation of these reforms. It identifies the important role of data sharing in reentry services and highlights the different roadblocks that those engaged in data sharing may encounter. It then identifies legal, ethical, and practical considerations for designing equitable data sharing systems that center the voices of impacted youth and safeguard against harmful uses of data that reinforce injustice. 🔗 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/epmw5HFd

Check out HARP’s December newsletter! This month, we highlight our latest publications and resources to support correctional administrators and states in implementing new Medicaid reentry requirements. We also share key policy updates, including recent 1115 reentry waiver approvals in North Carolina and West Virginia, and recap informative presentations delivered by our team members. Subscribe to HARP's Newsletter to stay informed on the intersection of the health care and criminal justice systems: https://lnkd.in/e9sUyWHp  

Policy Update:  This week, North Carolina and West Virginia became the 12th and 13th states to receive federal approval of state Medicaid 1115 reentry demonstration waivers. Currently, 12 additional states and DC have proposals pending approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. States across the country are advancing these proposals to build continuity of care as people return to communities, with goals of improving health and public safety. HARP will continue tracking and sharing waiver approval updates. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed: https://lnkd.in/eywGvUb3