Criminal Justice

The New York State Health Home Program is working to address healthcare challenges and disparities faced by persons involved in the criminal justice system. A disproportionate number of individuals under supervision have chronic medical conditions, serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder compared to the general population. Jails and prisons have become a place for shelter, food, and healthcare for those with unmet healthcare needs. Recidivism is a large concern. The Department of Health has partnered with six Health Homes and the criminal justice system to identify eligible incarcerated individuals and engage them in the program. The goal is to reduce recidivism and the utilization of unnecessary high–cost healthcare services through engagement with a Health Home that will provide them with a care manager to coordinate their care through a network of providers

On November 6, 2019, New York State submitted a proposed amendment to its Medicaid Redesign 1115 Demonstration to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting authorization of federal Medicaid matching funds for the provision of targeted Medicaid services to eligible justice–involved populations. These Medicaid services are to be provided in the 30–day period immediately prior to release from incarceration in county and State facilities to Medicaid–enrolled individuals who have two or more chronic physical/behavioral health conditions, a serious mental illness, HIV, or opioid use disorder.

  • Medicaid Redesign 1115 Demonstration Amendment Application:
    • Continuity of Coverage for Justice Involved Populations
      • Updated Submission: HTML – PDF – October 2019
      • Original Draft: PDF – August 2019

The NYS Department of Health established six Health Home pilots that are pioneering models of successful collaborations between the health care and criminal justice systems. These models of care incorporate effective engagement of justice involved individuals in criminal justice systems including State prisons, local jails, probation, and alternative to incarceration/reentry programs. The first phase of the work is focusing on people who are being released to the community after serving a sentence of incarceration in a jail or prison.

Currently the pilots are:

  1. HHUNY Western, BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc.
  2. HHUNY Finger Lakes, Huther–Doyle
  3. Bronx Accountable Healthcare Network (BAHN)
  4. Brooklyn Health Home (BHH)
  5. Community Healthcare Network (CHN)
  6. Coordinated Behavioral Care

Additional Information:

The Criminal Justice Work Group was established in 2012. Stakeholders and State Agency Partners come together to share updates on their programs and initiatives. It also serves as a platform to address barriers against receiving healthcare for individuals who are incarcerated or are in the process of transitioning out of the system. The Criminal Justice Work Group provides an opportunity for service providers to learn of other initiatives and resources throughout New York State, and ways in which they can become involved. Below are links to materials that have been presented at previous Criminal Justice Workgroup meetings.

Below are links to trainings, webinars and presentations provided by the NYSDOH State Agency Partners related to serving individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

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