Supporting a Fresh Start Linking Individuals with Benefits upon - PDF document

Supp Suppor orting a ng a Fresh Star esh Start: Linking Individuals with Linking Individuals with Benef Benefits upo upon R Release fr lease from om Incar Incarcera eratio ion Jason Jason Sauer Sauer, Deputy Assistant Director, Division of Benefits & Medical Eligibility, Arizona Department of Economic Security Jeanelle elle Romero, , Presumptive Eligibility and JUST Health Program Manager, Medical Assistance Division, NM Human Services Department Greg Greg Pulci Pulciphe her, Deputy System Administrator, Family Assistance Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security Sean P Sean Pear arso son, Chief Information Officer, NM Human Services Department 1 Supporting a Fresh Start Linking Individuals with Benefits upon Release from Incarceration Presenters Jason Sauer Jeanelle Romero Deputy Assistant Director Presumptive Eligibility and JUST Health Division of Benefits & Medical Eligibility Program Manager Arizona Department of Economic Security Medical Assistance Division NM Human Services Department Greg Pulcipher Sean Pearson Deputy System Administrator Chief Information Officer Family Assistance Administration NM Human Services Department Arizona Department of Economic Security Session Moderator: Galen Bock , Vice President, CGI 1

AZ Department of Economic Security & AZ Department of Corrections Second Chance Center Programs Background – Incarcerated inmates apply for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) coverage within 30 days of their release date (2016)* – Second Chance Center (SCC) campuses created as a pilot program in three state prisons (2017) – SCC Inmates apply for SNAP (2018)* *Corrections Officers act as assistors with application entry 2

Second Chance Centers • SCC complexes currently in two male prisons (Phoenix & Tucson) and one female prison (Phoenix). • Inmates apply for SCC program and complete screening process prior to acceptance • Inmates agree to be transferred to SCC corrections complex • Setting is similar to a college environment Second Chance Centers • DES staff on site • Coordinate access to a variety of services • Job fairs/job coaching/resume development/interview training • Vocational Rehabilitation • SNAP , Medicaid, TANF eligibility • Child support (payment and case processing) • Veterans services (if applicable) • Workforce readiness 3

Second Chance Center Data Lewis: Perryville: Tucson: Prison / SCC Name Total Eagle Point Unit Piestewa Unit Manzanita Unit Currently Participating 218 40 42 300 Completed 621 195 264 1,080 Placements 293 87 245 625 Data as of: Thursday, 06/07/2018 – Currently Participating – as of June 7, 2018 the participants enrolled in the program – Completed – number of inmates completing program since the establishment of the SCC’s (March 27, 2017) – Placements –the total number of job placements among inmates who completed program since SCC establishment. Currently there are 10/30/60/90 day follow ups from the SCC after release – successful placement would be considered if a job was accepted within 90 days of release . Second Chance Center Funding • Currently WIOA and Wagner-Peyser funds are used toward the reentry programs/SCC’s. 4

Second Chance Center Services • Holistic approach towards employment: – Mental health – Vocational rehabilitation – SNAP/Medicaid • Education & information to support employment: – I-9 documents (ID and SS card) – Treatment/support programs – Education & Life Skills programs – Workforce Readiness – Other services needed to secure & maintain employment Workforce Readiness • Workforce readiness: – Resume development – Interview preparation (how to explain offenses/incarceration to employers) – Job skills training – Job search assistance – On site job fairs – Connections to resources for clothing, housing, transportation upon release – Transportation options 5

Assistance Programs • Overview of Assistance Programs provided to inmates – Information on SNAP , Medicaid, TANF are presented to inmates within 60 days of release – SNAP FAQ included – Map of the who, what, when, where, how in programs – SNAP ED Assistance Programs 6

Assistance Programs Assistance Programs 7

Assistance Application Process Assistance Application Process • Inmates apply for SNAP , Medicaid, TANF assistance programs 30 days from release • Applications are completed with Corrections Officer acting as assistor • Inmates who are reuniting with their families may be added to family case (as a change) 8

Eligibility Determination Eligibility Determination - Post Release • Corrections provides list of inmates released daily • Specialized DBME unit enters release date into system; applications are pro-rated to date of release • Inmates complete SNAP interview as soon as possible after release • If expedited case, EBT card can be picked up in office same day (funds available next day) 9

Eligibility Determination - Post Release Technical/System Solutions • Establishing the inmate special case load in HEAplus (2 years ago) • Establishing a table of incarceration facilities that are participating in the program • Using the inmate release date for the proration date in determining eligibility and initial benefit (AZTECS) 10

Future Challenges • Expansion to additional corrections complexes and workload/capacity • Prioritization of population in relation to others • Geographic barriers • Technology • Potential for QC errors • Data on recidivism limited for short term impact Supporting a Fresh Start Linking Individuals with Benefits upon Release from Incarceration Sean P Sean Pearson arson Chief Information Officer Jean anelle R lle Romero mero Program Manager 11

 Medicaid State Plan Amendment for presumptive eligibility – January 2014  New Mexico Legislature passed Senate Bill 42 in early 2015; Governor Susana Martinez signed it into law effective July 1, 2015.  Primary goal was to ensure that the Medicaid ‐ eligible inmate population has timely access to health care services when released from prison or jail: • Behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders • Co ‐ morbidities • Reduce recidivism Incarceration shall not be a Upon release, an individual basis to terminate or deny who remains Medicaid An incarcerated individual eligibility for Medicaid. A eligible will have their not enrolled in Medicaid, Medicaid eligible individual Medicaid benefits may apply for Medicaid will have their Medicaid reinstated. Allowing the while incarcerated. benefits suspended until individual to access release. healthcare. 2 4 12

 Allows individuals who are eligible and enrolled in Medicaid at the point of incarceration to maintain their Medicaid eligibility. • Individual remains Medicaid eligible but benefits are “suspended” after 30 days of incarceration  Allows individuals who were not enrolled prior to incarceration the ability apply while incarcerated or at release.  Mandates prisons and jails to notify the Medicaid agency when an enrollee is incarcerated and when the inmate is released.  Allows Medicaid agency to automatically reactivate benefits when the inmate is released from jail or prison.  The Human Services Department (HSD) entered into inter ‐ governmental agreements with participating prisons and jails  Train jail/prison staff as certified Presumptive Eligibility Determiners  Participating prisons and jails required to share daily inmate booking and release information with HSD through a secure interface  Prison/jail IT systems – not originally designed to interface with HSD IT systems (created template for all facilities to follow)  Incarceration information interfaces directly with the Medicaid eligibility system (ASPEN)  ASPEN interfaces with the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS)  Extensive testing done with each rollout  Adding to system maintenance and operations – faster county rollouts going forward 13

 Most Medicaid recipients receive services through a Managed Care Organization (MCO)  Justice ‐ involved enrollees have benefits automatically suspended after 30 or more days of incarceration • Once suspension is in place, capitation payments to the MCO cease • Qualifying inpatient hospital claims may be eligible for reimbursement through FFS Medicaid while benefits are suspended  Justice ‐ involved individual released from prison/jail: • Release data sent from correctional facility • Individual’s benefits are reinstated • Individual is re ‐ enrolled with MCO (if applicable) • Capitation payments to the MCO resume  Released individual does not need to complete new Medicaid application  Allows for immediate access to benefits 14

 Adopted a new rule allowing HSD to suspend a Medicaid enrollee’s benefits 30 days after incarceration rather than terminate eligibility  Inmate defined as an individual who has been incarcerated for 30 days or more  Inmate may apply for or recertify Medicaid eligibility while incarcerated.  An inmate is not eligible for Medicaid ‐ covered services while incarcerated • Exception for qualifying inpatient hospital stays of 24 hours or more 15