On January 26, 2023, through a federal Medicaid 1115 demonstration waiver approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, California became the first state in the nation to receive federal approval to offer a targeted set of Medicaid services to Medi-Cal-eligible youth and adults in California correctional facilities including State prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities, with services for the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal Justice-Involved Initiative (CalAIM JII) activating up to 90 days prior to release.

Under CalAIM JII, processes for pre-release physical and behavioral health services and reentry planning must be in place to increase the likelihood of success of clients transitioning from incarceration to reacclimate back to their respective communities.

These CalAIM JII policy-based processes address the unique and considerable healthcare needs of justice-involved individuals, aim to improve health outcomes, enhance care delivery efficiency, advance health equity, and reduce health disparities and recidivism across the State.