HHS announces funding to support care transition for individuals leaving incarceration

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), took new policy action and announced the availability of $51 million for the first‐ever funding opportunity for HRSA‐supported health centers to implement innovative approaches to support transitions in care for people leaving incarceration, HHS officials announced last week. Aligned with the White House Second Chance Initiative, the action, for the first time, explicitly supports the provision of health services to individuals during the 90 days prior to their release to help them return to the community by expanding access to primary health care, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, furthering public health and strengthening public safety. HRSA‐funded health centers provide primary care, regardless of ability to pay, and are a cornerstone of our country's health care system, especially for individuals and families who are uninsured; enrolled in Medicaid; living in rural, remote, or underserved areas; struggling to afford their health insurance co‐pays; experiencing homelessness; residing in public housing; or otherwise having difficulty finding a doctor or paying for the cost of care. The 1,400 HRSA‐funded health centers operate more than 15,000 service sites, providing care for more than 30 million patients.