State Rep. Hank Vaupel testifies before the House Judiciary Committee Aug. 27 in support of his resolution urging Congress to allow jail and prison inmates to qualify for Medicaid coverage. He was joined by Judge Harvey Hoffman of the Michigan Treatment Court Professionals, left, and Michigan Department of Corrections liaison Kyle Kaminski, right.

State Rep. Hank Vaupel’s resolution urging Congress to allow jail and prison inmates to qualify for Medicaid coverage has been approved by the Michigan House.

Vaupel, of Fowlerville, said a federal policy prohibits the payment of federal Medicaid matching dollars for medical services provided to prison inmates, even if they were previously covered by Medicaid.

“Right now, people with Medicaid health care lose their coverage when they become incarcerated,” Vaupel said. “This often results in lapses of treatment as they enter into and transition out of the corrections system.”

Vaupel said the resolution was inspired by the many individuals he heard from during the 2017-18 statewide House C.A.R.E.S. mental health task force tour.

“Many people in our jails and prisons struggle with mental health and substance abuse problems,” Vaupel said. “It’s important for them to have access to consistent and reliable care so they can get healthy and become productive members of their community.”

Copies of House Resolution 93 will now be transmitted to the president of the U.S. Senate, speaker of the U.S. House and members of the Michigan congressional delegation.

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