Committee reviews Act 159 changes on inmate medical care, reentry and earned-time reviews

Ben Novogrovsky, legislative counsel, told the House Corrections & Institutions Committee on Nov. 15 that Act 159 of 2024 made a set of miscella­neous but substantive changes to corrections law, including new reentry requirements for prescription medications and steps to coordinate post-release care.

“This is in law. This is just a review of what this committee did last year,” Novogrovsky said as he walked members through the enacted text. He summarized key provisions that require the Department of Corrections (DOC) or its contractor to provide medication and care coordination when sentenced offenders return to the community.

Why it matters: Act 159 adds operational requirements that intersect with DOC contracts, Medicaid policy and community public safety. The statute directs DOC and its contractor (Wellpath) to hand an offender a supply of medication at release when a medication is available at the facility and is clinically appropriate; it also directs DOC to schedule initial appointments with community providers and may authorize caseworkers or health navigators to help arrange follow-up care.

Most notable provisions

- Medication supply at release: For sentenced offenders, the law requires the department or its contractor to provide “at release up not less than 28 day supply of the prescribed medication” and also to provide a valid prescription to be filled once community care begins, Novogrovsky said. The committee clarified the…