State Planning Grants to Promote Continuity of Care for Medicaid & CHIP Beneficiaries Following Incarceration
Section 206(a) of division G of the CAA, 2024, authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue State Planning Grants to address operational barriers to complying with requirements described in sections 1902(a)(84)(A) and 2102(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(84)(A)-(D), 1397bb(d)), which were amended by section 205 of division G of the CAA, 2024.
Planning Grants
CMS is making available planning grants to state Medicaid and CHIP agencies to develop operational capabilities to promote continuity of care for individuals who are inmates of a public institution and are eligible for medical assistance under the state Medicaid program or are eligible for child health assistance or pregnancy-related assistance under the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Funding is available for activities and expenses related to complying with the requirements under section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023, and section 205 of division G of the CAA, 2024, that:
- A state shall provide certain Medicaid and CHIP services to eligible juveniles in the period surrounding their release from a public institution as of January 1, 2025; and
- A state shall not terminate eligibility for medical assistance for individuals who are inmates of a public institution as of January 1, 2026.
Funds may be used for addressing operational barriers and improving systems for continuity of care following incarceration in state-operated prisons, local, tribal, and county jails, and youth correctional or detention facilities.
Up to 56 recipients (states and territories) are eligible for the planning grants. Eligible applicants were given two opportunities to apply. The first application period ended on November 26, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. The second application period will open no later than January 16, 2025, and ends on March 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
In January 2025, CMS announced the first round of grant awards to the following 12 states and territories: Alaska, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia.
The awards for these recipients range from $1.5 million to $5 million per state or territory.
All states and territories that did not receive a grant award in the first round of awards are eligible to apply during the second application period. For more information, visit Grants.gov.
National Informational Webinar Materials:
CMS hosted an informational webinar to discuss the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 12-1 p.m. ET.
Webinar Recording with Transcript
Additional Resources:
CMS released a Questions and Answers document in response to questions received to date.
For more information about the Planning Grants, contact PlanningGrantsPCC@cms.hhs.gov.