LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday that Kentuckians leaving incarceration will now receive one year of Medicaid coverage through a federal waiver program, along with a one-month supply of any medications prescribed while in state custody.

The 1115 Reentry Program waiver, approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in July 2024, became fully operational this month after several months of implementation across state systems. The waiver applies to adults in Kentucky state prisons and youth in state Youth Development Centers, with coverage beginning up to 60 days before a person's expected release date.

"Providing services like health care to adults and juveniles who have paid their debt to society will help reduce recidivism, decrease overdose deaths, boost our workforce and make our commonwealth safer," Beshear said.

The announcement comes as Kentucky's recidivism rate declined for the second consecutive year, with nearly 70% of people released from state custody over the past two years not returning to prison. The state defines recidivism as re-incarceration within 24 months of release.

According to Beth Fisher, deputy communications director for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, "full implementation took time" because the program involves multiple agencies working across complex systems, Medicaid eligibility changes, and technology alignments. Incarcerated individuals can receive pre-release screenings starting 60 days before their scheduled release.

The program has no enrollment caps and is designed to help people who would have qualified for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program. Morgan Hall, communications director for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said that while not all 12,000 adults in state prisons and nearly 90 juveniles in Youth Development Centers will qualify for Medicaid 60 days prior to release, "the majority may, and the 1115 waiver will be another tool for successful reentry and reduction of the state's recidivism rate."

Kentucky is among 11 states with approved Medicaid reentry demonstrations, according to federal data. The waiver builds on existing Kentucky initiatives aimed at supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, including job training programs and the Jobs on Day One initiative launched with the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council.