SJC Exchange Library

Originally posted by Margot Cronin-Furman on 11/17/2025

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More than four months after passage of the sweeping "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) in Congress, stakeholders are working to understand what the new law means for ongoing efforts at the state and local levels to strengthen access to services and continuity of care for people who are leaving prison and jail. Today, HARP is releasing a new, in-depth analysis of key provisions of the OBBBA and its likely impact on Medicaid and reentry. You can find our new analysis here: Implications of Key Medicaid Provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on Reentry, Health, and Public Safety.

HARP's analysis of key Medicaid eligibility and financing provisions offers insights for those looking to strengthen public health and safety through improved access to health care at reentry in a shifting landscape.  

While OBBBA leaves intact recent policy gains linking Medicaid to reentry through section 1115 reentry waivers, it overlays those gains with significant changes to eligibility requirements for beneficiaries that condition coverage on work or participation in other community engagement activities. Our analysis explores the impact of these new requirements, the technical needs necessary to ensure successful implementation, and the cost implications for states. 

HARP offers technical assistance to help states and local governments effectively implement health and reentry policies. We will continue to conduct analysis of the OBBBA's impact on the reentry landscape, and invite you to reach out to us if you are interested in learning more about how we can support the work in your state.

Thanks!

The HARP Team