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Today the Health Care Authority (HCA) was recognized with the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) 2025 Spotlight Award for Washington state’s work on the Reentry Initiative. The Reentry Initiative is a new Apple Health (Medicaid) program under the Medicaid Transformation Project that provides a set of health care services for individuals leaving incarceration.
The award recognizes the achievement of eight carceral facilities across Washington that launched the initiative on July 1, 2025, and another four on November 1, 2025. Eight facilities are preparing to launch on January 1, 2026; and over 15 facilities are working through the requirements to launch in July of next year. You can see the full list of participating facilities on the Reentry Initiative webpage.
As part of the award, NAMD interviewed Tyron Nixon, HCA's Transformation Implementation Manager for the Reentry Initiative, and created a video highlighting the hard work that has gone into this initiative. HCA is honored to receive this recognition and especially thanks the facilities that have been working tirelessly to make the Reentry Initiative a success.
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For nearly three years, HCA and partners have been building the framework and defining the program requirements needed to launch this groundbreaking initiative. Experts on state and federal policy, Apple Health eligibility, pharmacy, billing, and Medicaid programs have worked together to meet the goals of the Reentry Initiative: to reduce recidivism, emergency department visits, overdoses, and death.
By providing incarcerated individuals who are Apple Health-eligible with a set of health care services before their release, the Reentry Initiative aims to ensure a person’s health and successful reentry to their community.
Washington is the second state in the nation to launch such an initiative. The state is also the first to use a managed care model with a third-party administrator to assist facilities with Apple Health billing and claiming submissions. Participating facilities are a mix of county jails, state facilities, and juvenile detention centers in both rural and urban areas. HCA has been working closely with the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF) to become the first in the nation to partner with other state agencies on a Reentry Initiative like this.
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The NAMD Spotlight Award is an annual award that recognizes exceptional leadership and innovation in Medicaid program improvement. HCA’s Interim Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson accepted the award on behalf of HCA, Reentry Initiative partners across the state, and the many individuals who have contributed to the success of this program.
 Trinity Wilson from the Health Care Authority accepts the NAMD 2025 Spotlight Award
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