30-Day Supply of Medications
Provide all individuals reentering from correctional facilities with a 30-day supply of medications
Why is this important?
Because individuals who have been incarcerated have high rates of chronic diseases, continuous management of their conditions post-release is critically important.23 Maintenance medications are a key component of this management. Although some states “provide individuals with a limited supply of medications upon release, this is not a consistently adopted practice.”24 Little is known about jails’ provision of post-release medications.
Strategy
Correctional facilities must establish efficient mechanisms for either their in-house or a contracted community pharmacy to provide the 30-day supply of medications on the day an individual is released. This also requires the facility to create mechanisms for medical staff to quickly issue prescriptions when necessary. And this 30-day supply of post-release medication should include a naloxone kit.
Example #1: Washington
Washington’s current policy requires the Department of Corrections to provide a 30-day supply of medications at release, although they have the ability to prescribe less under certain conditions.
Example #2: Washington
Before individuals who may be released directly from court actually go to court, Washington jails participating in the state’s MOUD and MAUD in Jails Program inform them that they may request to be transported back to jail by staff to receive their supply of post-release medication.
Additionally, when medications cannot be provided upon release, like because of an unscheduled release at a time when medical staff are not present, Washington jails:
- Inform the individual that they may either return to the jail the following day to receive bridge medications
- Or if no medical staff will be present the following day, have medical staff call in a prescription for the same bridging medication at a local pharmacy
Check out: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (MAUD) in Jails: Standard of Care Guidelines, pages 4–5
Example #3: California
California’s requirements for a 30-day supply of medications at release include:
- Providing a full supply of medications in hand upon release from the correctional facility pharmacy, with prescriptions for refills in place, as clinically appropriate.
- Using a Medi-Cal pharmacy to fill medications provided upon release.
- Complying with Medi-Cal’s prior authorization and utilization management requirements.
- Supporting overdose prevention by providing naloxone upon release, as well as a clinically appropriate supply of MAT with follow up.
- Ensuring that an individual diagnosed with an SUD (e.g., OUD) receives a supply that’s deemed appropriate and takes into account the date of their next follow-up appointment. For example, an individual who is on a stable treatment dose and who has a follow-up appointment with their SUD treatment provider within 2 weeks of release should receive at least a 14-day supply of buprenorphine.
The pre-release care manager also works with the post-release care manager (if different) to support the individual in transferring medication refill orders to the individual’s preferred community pharmacy, as necessary.
Explore: Policy and Operational Guide for Planning and Implementing the CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative, pages 119–123
Example #4: Maine
At discharge, the Maine Department of Corrections provides a naloxone kit and hands-on education on responding to an overdose.
Access: Medication Assisted Treatment Services First Year Review