Nevada Medicaid awarded $5 million for program that would give healthcare to released inmates

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) - Nevada Medicaid has been given an award of $5 million to help implement a program that would provide healthcare for newly released inmates.

The money will be used to implement a standardized Electronic Health Records systems to track patients and bill Medicaid. Nevada was one of 12 states awarded the planning grants.

“These funds aim to improve access to care by helping local jails and prisons better meet the needs of people before they are released,” Nevada Medicaid Administrator Stacie Weeks said. “This will bring in revenue to our correctional facilities to help serve some of our most vulnerable and at-risk populations.”

Nevada Medicaid says the program will help inmates reintegrate back into society and will make them less likely to reoffend.