Maine jails granted federal waiver to bill MaineCare for inmate clinical services

Maine jails and prisons will be permitted to bill MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, for specific clinical services provided to incarcerated individuals. This change follows the approval of a federal waiver by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The waiver allows correctional facilities to bill for services provided up to 60 days before an individual’s expected release. Covered services include medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder, physical and behavioral health case management, diagnostic services, family planning, and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C. It also covers a 30-day supply of prescription medications provided upon release.

This development aims to alleviate the financial pressure on local jurisdictions. According to a report from the Maine County Corrections Professional Standards Council, Maine’s counties spent over $12.6 million on mental health and medication-assisted treatment across 15 facilities last year. While jails have been required to provide certain addiction treatments since 2019, they have previously relied on local funds, grants, and opioid settlement money to cover the costs.