Press Release  Massachusetts Expands Health Care Pathways for People Returning Home from Incarceration

BOSTON – Massachusetts recently implemented the Massachusetts Medicaid Reentry Demonstration 1115 Waiver (“Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration”), to improve health care access for people returning to their communities after incarceration. 

The Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration allows eligible individuals to access MassHealth, Massachusetts’ Medicaid program, coverage up to 90 days before release, giving providers a critical window to establish care and prepare for the transition home. The initiative reflects Massachusetts’ commitment to supporting successful reentry and improving continuity of care for individuals with significant health needs. Compared with the general public, incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of chronic disease, such as diabetes and hypertension, alongside substantially higher rates of behavioral health disorders. Immediately after release, these health disparities can be compounded by disrupted access to medications and care, unstable housing and employment, and elevated risks of overdose and mental health crises.

By strengthening access to Medicaid services before and upon release, the initiative can help people leave custody with connections to health coverage, medications, treatment, and community-based providers already in place.

The Massachusetts Sheriffs have been leading the charge nationally in bringing awareness to the inequities of the Federal Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy. This is a very proud moment for the Sheriffs of the Commonwealth along with all of our partners.

Massachusetts' approach demonstrates a growing commitment to the recognition that correctional health and community health are interconnected. Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration is designed to move care upstream, supporting a range of public health and public safety outcomes, including reductions in preventable mortality, unnecessary emergency department use, and reincarceration.

Implementation of the Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration is the result of a collaboration among the Executive OXice of Health and Human Services (EOHSS), the Executive OXice of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), and the Massachusetts SheriXs’ Association (MSA) on behalf of the fourteen SheriXs of the Commonwealth. In addition, this endeavor would not happen without the support of our partners to include the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ForHealth Consulting-UMass Chan Medical School, Health and Reentry Project (HARP), Manatt Medicaid Health Services and other correctional health providers, community health organizations, and academic partners.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office achieved an important early milestone in January 2026, becoming the first correctional facility to enroll as a MassHealth provider in support of the initiative. Franklin County’s recent launch is the culmination of significant preparation, coordination, and commitment by the organization to establish the infrastructure needed to connect individuals with critical health and supportive services.

“In a rural community, we understand that access is about more than whether a service exists,” said Franklin County Sheriff Lori Streeter. “It is about whether someone can get there, whether they know where to turn, whether the service is connected to the other supports they need, and whether they feel welcomed when they walk through the door. We are committed to doing our part to build those connections.”

“The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security congratulates the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office on making this program available to individuals returning to their communities,” said Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Andrew Peck. “We proudly support this important work because today’s announcement strengthens access to and continuity of care beyond incarceration. The Healey-Driscoll Administration shares the commitment of correctional professionals in state and county facilities to ensure justiceinvolved individuals have access to quality health care as they transition back into their communities. Strengthening that continuity of care can help reduce recidivism and improve public safety.”

At its core, the Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration is about the people and families whose health and stability can be profoundly affected by whether they have a meaningful pathway to care after incarceration. Strengthening that pathway at one of the most vulnerable points in a person’s life represents an important investment in successful reentry and in the health and well-being of Massachusetts communities.

“We are proud to be a leader both nationally and locally in the Medicaid Reentry Demonstration endeavor. It is with the unprecedented collaboration between the Sheriffs of the Commonwealth, EOHSS and EOPSS, that together, we stand unified in our commitment to help improve health outcomes for those living and returning to our communities” said MSA President, Sheriff Patrick Cahillane.

“The importance of providing critical Medicaid services for individuals transitioning out of incarceration cannot be overstated. Bridging that gap in health care coverage not only improves health outcomes but also lowers reincarceration rates and increases the likelihood of employment,” said Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary for MassHealth Ryan Schwarz. “MassHealth is grateful to our tremendous partners at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Massachusetts’ Sheriffs’ Association, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication to launching this initiative. We are steadfast in our commitment to this work and look forward to expanding it to other facilities throughout the Commonwealth.”

This project has been supported by our partners across agencies from its inception to set up the Commonwealth for success. When looking for partners we sought out healthcare consultants to collaborate between public safety partners and public health leadership. “ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan is grateful for the partnership between the MSA, EOHHS and EOPSS on this endeavor. Our team has been in collaboration with these partners from idea to implementation over the last several years. We look forward to continued partnership and success as we support those impacted by justice involvement in their return to our communities. This milestone is the culmination of our experience in policy development, implementation strategy, technical assistance and correctional healthcare and we are proud to support this work” said Meaghan Dupuis, Executive Director of Justice, Health & Equity at ForHealth Consulting. 

To learn more about the Massachusetts Reentry Demonstration, please contact Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director, Carrie Hill at Carrie.Hill@mass.gov for more information.

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