Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act

Key Points

• The bill lets people held in jail while awaiting trial keep their Medicaid, Medicare, or VA health coverage, instead of automatically losing it the moment they are taken into custody.
• It changes federal law covering Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP, and separately requires the VA to update its regulations so veterans awaiting trial are not excluded from VA health care.
• CHIP is also amended so pregnant women in custody pending charges keep coverage, and children get guaranteed health screenings in the 30 days before release from a facility.
• Most changes would start a few months after the bill is signed, but the VA change would take effect right away on the date of enactment.
• The bill responds to concerns that people who have not been convicted, often held only because they can't afford bail, lose access to needed medical and mental health treatment while awaiting trial.