How Can Accreditation Improve Care for Justice-Involved Populations?
Men and women released from jails or prisons across the United States face some of the highest overdose risks in the nation, with a significant portion returning to opioid use shortly after release. By the third month following release, an estimated 75 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder experience a relapse to opioid use. This population is between 10 and 40 times more likely to die from an overdose compared to the general public, highlighting a critical gap in post-release care and support systems.
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What Role Does Medicaid Play in Preventing Post-Release Overdose?
Accreditation programs that set clear benchmarks for behavioral health services in correctional and reentry settings are gaining attention as a way to ensure consistent, evidence-based care. These standards can mandate screening for opioid use disorder upon intake, offer medication-assisted treatment during incarceration, and require discharge planning that includes connections to community providers. Facilities that meet accreditation criteria may also qualify for funding incentives or technical assistance, encouraging broader adoption of best practices across jurisdictions.
Restoring Medicaid coverage earlier in the reentry process—such as 30 days before release—can significantly improve access to treatment and medications like buprenorphine or methadone. Currently, many states terminate Medicaid benefits upon incarceration, creating a coverage gap that leaves individuals without care during the most vulnerable period. Policy reforms that suspend rather than terminate benefits, or that allow pre-release enrollment, are being tested in several states to maintain continuity of care and reduce relapse and overdose risk.
Why are formerly incarcerated individuals at such high risk for overdose after release? They often experience reduced tolerance to opioids after a period of abstinence during incarceration, combined with interrupted treatment and limited access to care upon return to the community, making them far more susceptible to fatal overdose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can medication-assisted treatment be effectively provided in jails and prisons? Yes, studies show that offering medications like buprenorphine and methadone in correctional settings is safe, reduces illicit drug use during incarceration, and increases engagement in treatment after release when combined with proper discharge planning.
What is one policy change that could immediately improve outcomes? Reinstating Medicaid eligibility prior to release—rather than waiting until after release—would ensure individuals have immediate access to life-saving treatments and support services during the critical first weeks back in the community.