By skyforbes 
With several Utah Republicans speaking in support of the bill, the Utah House of Representatives passed — by a 74–0 count — legislation that would ensure that no length of time would pass whereby individuals would not have Medicaid coverage upon release from prison. The sponsor of HB460 was Rep. Spackman Moss (D-Salt Lake City). “The worst-case scenario is they die because they relapse,” Moss said. Currently, Medicaid is terminated when an individual goes to jail. Now, however, it will be available immediately upon that person’s release and be frozen only while the individual is incarcerated.
“This is a fairly critical thing,” said Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem), a Republican representative from a county recently rated the most conservative in America.
Daw explained that in jail, the incarcerated “can be weaned off” drugs.
“Their drug tolerance goes down,” Daw said. “It’s when they get out (that results in) a problem.”
The “handoff between jail and getting out is a crucial time,” Daw said, saying the newly released sometimes “mess around trying to get Medicaid coverage … which would provide treatment.”
“They are already eligible for Medicaid,” Daw pointed out. “If they could have it upon the day they get out of jail, it will … save their lives.”