evidence: "In their first two weeks after release from incarceration, ex-convicts are 129 times more likely than the general public to die from a drug overdose. The Medicaid Reentry Act seeks to tackle the epidemics of opioid overdoses and recidivism after release from prison by resuming benefits for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before they are released to avoid a gap in coverage," said Senator Braun. [...] "Addiction doesn’t disappear behind bars, yet evidence-based addiction treatment is still too difficult to access for incarcerated individuals," said Paul H. Earley, MD, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. "During the first two weeks of reentry, people are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose and are at significantly higher risk of suicide, underscoring the need to ensure coordinated care during such a vulnerable time. We commend these bipartisan leaders for introducing the Medicaid Reentry Act and urge Congress to pass this critical legislation quickly in order to reduce the risk of overdose and ultimately save lives."