The gist

Requires Medicaid to cover 12 mental health telehealth visits per year for people on court-ordered home confinement after leaving prison or jail.

Who wins, who loses

• Wins: formerly incarcerated people on home confinement, their families, reentry advocates, rural areas with few in-person therapists.
• Loses: federal and state Medicaid budgets absorbing new coverage costs.

What it does

• Amends Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act, adding a new paragraph (90) to Medicaid rules.
• Guarantees 12 telehealth mental health visits per calendar year during home confinement.
• Applies only to people incarcerated in a public institution right before home confinement.
• Takes effect for individuals released on or after the law's enactment date.

Why should I care?

Supporters say the weeks after release have the highest risk of overdose, suicide, and reoffending, and telehealth removes transportation barriers. Critics argue Medicaid shouldn't expand during budget fights and that 12 visits is arbitrary. An alternative being debated: fund in-person reentry clinics instead. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.