An Act to Reduce Recidivism by Improving Access to Benefits for Individuals
with Psychiatric Disabilities upon Release from Incarceration
Article VI: Bridge Programs
A. State Policy
It shall be the policy of [State] to offer individuals with psychiatric
disabilities temporary Medicaid eligibility and temporary income support
when released from
incarceration while their applications for federal benefits are pending.
[Medicaid agency] will administer the temporary Medicaid eligibility program,
and [state agency] will administer the temporary income support program.
B.
Temporary Medicaid Card
1. An individual with psychiatric disabilities
shall be qualified to receive a temporary Medicaid card upon release from
incarceration if:
a. the individual is not receiving Medicaid-funded services;
b. the
individual is likely to be eligible for Medicaid; and
c. an application
for SSI or Medicaid was filed on his or her behalf while the
individual was incarcerated or within three (3) months after
the individual’s
release.
2. An individual with a psychiatric disability may apply for a
temporary Medicaid card while incarcerated or within three (3) months
after release.
Application
may be made by submission to the [Medicaid agency] of an application
for Medicaid, a copy of an application for SSI submitted on the individual’s
behalf or other documentation deemed suitable by the [Medicaid agency].
3. Within fourteen (14) days of submission of the application, the [Medicaid
agency] will determine whether the individual is qualified to receive
a temporary Medicaid card and, if so, will immediately issue a temporary
Medicaid card
to the individual. If the individual is incarcerated, the card will entitle
the individual to receive benefits under the temporary Medicaid program
effective upon his or her release. If the individual has already been
released,
the
card will be effective immediately.
4. If found qualified for a temporary
Medicaid card, the individual is entitled to receive covered Medicaid
services from certified Medicaid
providers for
a period of six (6) months. For individuals found qualified while incarcerated,
the six (6) months begins upon release. For individuals found qualified
after release, the six (6) months begins on the date of that determination.
The
six (6) month term may be renewed at the option of the [Medicaid agency].
5. A temporary Medicaid card shall be void if, prior to the end of a
six (6) month term, it is determined that:
a. the individual is not
eligible for the SSI program, and
b. the individual is not eligible for
Medicaid under any other Medicaid eligibility category.
6. To the extent
permitted by federal law, the state may claim reimbursement under the
Medicaid program for payments made for care provided to an
individual to whom a temporary Medicaid card has been issued. The state
may not recoup
any costs from the individual, including if the individual is found ineligible
for Medicaid.
C. Temporary Income Support
1. An individual with a psychiatric disability
shall be qualified for temporary income support upon release from incarceration
if:
a. the individual is not receiving SSI or SSDI;
b. the individual is
likely to be eligible for SSI or SSDI, and
c. an application for SSI
or SSDI was filed on his or her behalf while the individual was
incarcerated or within three (3) months after the
individual’s
release.
2. An individual with a psychiatric disability may apply for
temporary income support while incarcerated or within three (3) months
after release.
Application
may be made by submitting to the [responsible agency] a copy of an
application for SSI or SSDI benefits, or other documentation deemed suitable
by the
[responsible agency]. Within fourteen (14) days of submission of the
application, the
[responsible agency] will determine whether the individual is qualified
to receive temporary
income support.
3. Temporary income support shall be paid monthly in
an amount equal to the [basic SSI payment in the state]. Payments will
be made for
a period
of six
(6) months. For individuals found qualified while incarcerated, the
six (6) months begins upon release. For individuals found qualified
after
release, the six (6) months begins on the date of that determination.
The six (6)
month term may be renewed at the option of the [responsible agency].
Payments may
be terminated before the end of a six (6) month term if the Social
Security Administration makes a final determination that the individual
is not
eligible to receive the federal benefits for which the individual
applied.
4. To the extent permitted by federal law, the state may recoup
the temporary income support from SSI or SSDI back benefits issued
by the Social Security
Administration. The state may not otherwise recoup any payments
of temporary income support from the individual, including if the individual
is found
ineligible for SSI or SSDI.
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