OLYMPIA – A bill to help young people incarcerated in Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) facilities reconnect with health care coverage after their release from juvenile incarceration was signed into law Friday. Senate Bill 5128 passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
In 2021, the Legislature passed SB 5304, which directed the Health Care Authority to suspend rather than terminate Medicaid enrollment for incarcerated individuals. This policy change aimed to address potential gaps in health care coverage for individuals upon release from correctional institutions, state hospitals, and treatment facilities, as reenrolling in Medicaid after termination can be challenging. However, implementation of the law has varied across the state, particularly for young people in different care settings.
SB 5128 amends current law to make clear that young people in DCYF-operated institutions and individuals in juvenile detention facilities are covered as well.
“Young people who come out of these facilities often still need ongoing medication, health care management, and very commonly, behavioral health care support,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Federal Way), the bill’s sponsor. “It’s critically important we do everything we can to prevent those young people from losing their coverage and falling through the cracks.”
Previously, individuals who were incarcerated could remain on Medicaid for the first 30 days of their sentence before coverage was terminated. Under the new law, Medicaid coverage will be suspended after 30 days instead of terminated, and individuals will be reenrolled 30 days prior to their release.
“For many, SB 5128 will prevent young people in juvenile detention facilities from ever losing their coverage while serving sentences because many are released after less than 30 days,” Wilson said.
SB 5128 takes effect on July 1, 2025.
