Ohio built one of the earliest and most studied Medicaid pre-release enrollment programs in the country. Ohio's Medicaid Pre-Release Enrollment Program (MPRE) became fully operational in all 28 ODRC state correctional facilities in March 2017. By 2018, 66.6% of MPRE enrollees said that having Medicaid made it less likely they would return to prison. Ohio has been cited as a national model for other states building pre-release Medicaid infrastructure.
Ohio also has a distinctive employment tool: the Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE), which allows people with felony or misdemeanor convictions to apply to the court to lift specific collateral sanction bars to employment or professional licensing. And Ohio voting rights are restored immediately upon release from incarceration -- even while on parole or probation.
Here is how the system works and what you need to do.
Ohio Medicaid Pre-Release Enrollment Program (MPRE)
Ohio's MPRE began development in 2014 when the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), and other state agencies began building a system to connect incarcerated individuals with Medicaid managed care coverage upon release. The program became fully operational in all 28 ODRC facilities in March 2017.
How MPRE works:
Pre-enrollment class: ODRC staff and Prison Transition and Policy Management Group (PTPMG) staff provide a class explaining Medicaid, plan options, and the enrollment process.
Plan selection: Each participant receives a report card comparing Ohio's five statewide Medicaid managed care plans. There is no default enrollment -- the individual must choose one of the five plans. Advising from PTPMG staff supports informed plan selection.
Enrollment class: Medicaid applicants complete paperwork during an enrollment class, with a short private interview. Applications are submitted to ODM for processing.
At release: The individual leaves with an active Medicaid managed care plan or coverage that activates upon release.
2018 evaluation findings:
29.1% of MPRE enrollees had 7 or more days of incapacity due to a mental health condition in the 30 days before release.
29.3% of enrollees received substance abuse treatment upon release.
66.6% of enrollees said having Medicaid made it less likely they would return to prison or jail.
Ask your ODRC case manager before release whether MPRE enrollment has been completed and which managed care plan was selected. If not enrolled, ask why and whether enrollment is still possible before release.
What ODRC Provides at Release
ODRC (drc.ohio.gov) operates the Office of Reentry (DRC.OfficeofReentry@drc.ohio.gov) and the ODRC Reentry Coalition. ODRC reentry services include:
Medicaid pre-release enrollment (MPRE) in all 28 facilities.
Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE): ODRC conducts the initial background review of CQE petitions filed at the Court of Common Pleas.
Job readiness and vocational training programs inside facilities.
Community resource connections through county-level Ex-Offender Reentry Coalitions (ORC §5120.07).
Reentry dockets: Specialized dockets funded through OhioMHAS ($11 million per year in FY 2024-2025) provide intensive reentry support; in SFY 2023, 170 funded dockets served 6,884 adult offenders, with less than 2% of high-risk, high-need participants returning to ODRC institutions.
Supreme Court of Ohio Reentry Task Force: The Ohio Supreme Court convened a Reentry Task Force that issued a Final Report in 2024 with recommendations on Medicaid, housing, employment, family support, and stigma. The Task Force evaluated both prison reentry and jail release services. Key recommendation: the Ohio Department of Medicaid should develop Medicaid education resources for correctional facility staff and incarcerated individuals to enhance healthcare connections.
Getting Your Ohio State ID or Driver's License
Ohio state IDs and driver's licenses are issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV, bmv.ohio.gov). Ohio voters can also obtain a free state ID card from the BMV.
If your ID was not processed before release, visit any Ohio BMV location. You will need documents establishing your identity, Social Security number, and Ohio residency. Standard documents include a birth certificate or passport, your Social Security card, and proof of an Ohio address. Your ODRC release documentation serves as a supporting identity document.
Ask your ODRC case manager before release whether the facility provides assistance initiating state ID processing.
Getting Your Social Security Card
If your Social Security card was not obtained before release, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate.
Ask your case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing the card replacement and benefit application process to begin up to 90 days before release.
Getting Your Birth Certificate
If you were born in Ohio, request a certified copy from the Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics at odh.ohio.gov or by calling (614) 466-2531. The fee is currently $25 per copy.
If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office. Start this process early -- out-of-state requests can take time and delay your ID process.
Medicaid in Ohio
Ohio expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Low-income adults are generally eligible. Ohio Medicaid is administered by the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM, medicaid.ohio.gov). Contact: 1-800-324-8680.
If you completed MPRE before release: your Medicaid managed care coverage should be active or activating upon release. Contact ODM at 1-800-324-8680 if coverage is not active after release.
If you did not complete MPRE: apply at medicaid.ohio.gov or call 1-800-324-8680. MPRE is available in all 28 ODRC state facilities, but if you were in a county jail or other facility, you may need to apply post-release.
Ohio also built the RoMPIR (Reinstatement of Medicaid for Public Institution Recipients) system, which automatically suspends Medicaid enrollment during incarceration and reinstates benefits when incarcerated people receive inpatient hospital services or are released. MPRE was built on top of this infrastructure.
SNAP: Food Assistance
Ohio has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP subject to standard income and eligibility requirements.
Apply for SNAP through your local county Department of Job and Family Services or at jfs.ohio.gov.
Voting Rights in Ohio
Ohio voting rights are barred only while you are incarcerated in prison or jail for a felony conviction. Upon release -- even if you are on parole or post-release control -- you are immediately eligible to re-register to vote and vote in Ohio elections.
Re-register to vote at ohiosos.gov or at any Ohio BMV location. Contact Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) or the Ohio Secretary of State's office (ohiosos.gov) if you have questions about your specific eligibility.
Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE)
The Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) was created by Ohio Senate Bill 337, effective September 29, 2012. It allows persons with previous felony or misdemeanor convictions to apply to the court to lift specific collateral sanction bars to employment or professional licensing in Ohio.
Waiting period to file a petition:
Felony conviction: one year after release and completion of all periods of supervision.
Misdemeanor conviction: six months after release and all periods of supervision (or six months from final release from all court sanctions if no incarceration occurred).
How to apply: Complete the online application at ohreentry.intelligrants.com. ODRC reviews the petition. Print and take it to the Court of Common Pleas in your county of residence. The court considers the petition.
Employer protections: Employers who hire CQE holders receive protections from certain negligent hiring lawsuits and may also have tax credit and federal bond eligibility benefits.
Contact the ODRC Office of Reentry (DRC.OfficeofReentry@drc.ohio.gov) for CQE questions.
ODRC and Ohio Reentry Resources
ODRC Office of Reentry (drc.ohio.gov; DRC.OfficeofReentry@drc.ohio.gov): MPRE; CQE; ODRC Reentry Coalition; OhioMHAS-funded reentry dockets.
Ohio Department of Medicaid (medicaid.ohio.gov; 1-800-324-8680): Medicaid applications; MPRE enrollment; RoMPIR system.
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (jfs.ohio.gov): SNAP and cash assistance applications.
Ohio BMV (bmv.ohio.gov): State ID and driver's license; free state ID available for voting purposes.
Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics (odh.ohio.gov; 614-466-2531): Birth certificates; $25 per copy.
CQE Online Application (ohreentry.intelligrants.com): Apply for Certificate of Qualification for Employment.
Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org): Free legal resources for Ohioans, including Medicaid, CQE, expungement, and reentry matters.
Ohio Justice and Policy Center (ohiojpc.org): Criminal Records Manual and resources for navigating criminal record barriers in Ohio.
Hamilton County Office of Reentry (HCOR, hamiltoncountyohio.gov): County-level reentry services; Hamilton County One-Stop Resource Center; ODRC partnership.
211 Ohio (oh211.org; dial 211): Statewide referrals to housing, food, health, and social services by county.
Social Security Administration (ssa.gov; 1-800-772-1213): SSI and SSDI applications; SSA Reentry Benefits at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
Frequently asked questions
Does ODRC help with Medicaid before release in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio's Medicaid Pre-Release Enrollment Program (MPRE) is fully operational in all 28 ODRC state correctional facilities. ODRC and ODM staff provide pre-enrollment classes, plan comparison report cards (five managed care plans), and a formal enrollment class where participants complete paperwork. There is no default enrollment -- each participant must choose a plan. Ask your case manager whether MPRE enrollment has been completed and which plan was selected.
What is Ohio's Medicaid Pre-Release Enrollment Program?
Ohio's MPRE is a nationally recognized pre-release Medicaid enrollment system developed beginning in 2014 and fully operational in all 28 ODRC facilities by March 2017. It provides a two-class sequence (pre-enrollment education and plan enrollment), a five-plan comparison report card, and formal enrollment with ODM before release. A 2018 evaluation found that 29.3% of enrollees received SUD treatment upon release and 66.6% said having Medicaid made it less likely they would return to prison or jail. The program is built on Ohio's RoMPIR system, which automatically suspends and reinstates Medicaid during and after incarceration.
Can I get Medicaid after prison in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio expanded Medicaid and low-income adults are generally eligible. If you completed MPRE, your managed care coverage should be active or activating upon release -- contact ODM at 1-800-324-8680 if it is not. If you did not complete MPRE, apply at medicaid.ohio.gov or call 1-800-324-8680.
Can I get SNAP benefits after prison in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP subject to standard income and eligibility requirements. Apply through your local county Department of Job and Family Services or at jfs.ohio.gov.
Can I vote after prison in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio bars voting only while you are incarcerated. Upon release from prison or jail, even while on parole or post-release control, you are immediately eligible to re-register and vote. Re-register at ohiosos.gov or any Ohio BMV location. Contact Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) if you have questions.
How do I get my birth certificate in Ohio?
If you were born in Ohio, request a certified copy from the Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics at odh.ohio.gov or by calling (614) 466-2531. The current fee is $25 per copy. Ask your ODRC case manager whether the facility can assist with this before release. If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office early.
How do I replace my Social Security card in Ohio?
Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate. Ask your ODRC case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing this to begin up to 90 days before release. SSA reentry benefits information is at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
What is the Certificate of Qualification for Employment?
The CQE (created by SB 337, effective September 29, 2012) allows persons with felony or misdemeanor convictions to petition the Court of Common Pleas to lift specific collateral sanction bars to employment or professional licensing. Felony CQE petitions may be filed one year after release and completion of all supervision. Apply online at ohreentry.intelligrants.com; ODRC reviews the petition; then take it to your county Court of Common Pleas for consideration. Employers who hire CQE holders receive certain negligent hiring protections and may qualify for tax credits and federal bonding. Contact the ODRC Office of Reentry (DRC.OfficeofReentry@drc.ohio.gov) for questions.
What benefits can I apply for after release in Ohio?
Ohio Medicaid at medicaid.ohio.gov (1-800-324-8680) -- MPRE should have enrolled you before release; contact ODM if coverage is not active. SNAP through your local county DJFS or jfs.ohio.gov -- no drug conviction ban. SSI or SSDI through SSA (1-800-772-1213) if you qualify through age or disability. Veterans' benefits through the VA if applicable. 211 Ohio (dial 211 or oh211.org) for county referrals. Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) for free legal resources on benefits, CQE, and expungement.
What reentry resources does ODRC provide?
ODRC (drc.ohio.gov) provides: MPRE in all 28 facilities; CQE petition review; OhioMHAS-funded reentry dockets ($11M/year) serving thousands with less than 2% returning to ODRC; ODRC Reentry Coalition; job readiness and vocational training. The Supreme Court of Ohio Reentry Task Force (2024 Final Report) provides statewide recommendations on Medicaid, housing, employment, and stigma. Hamilton County Office of Reentry provides county-level reentry services and a One-Stop Resource Center. 211 Ohio (oh211.org, dial 211) provides county referrals. Ohio Legal Help (ohiolegalhelp.org) provides free resources for benefit access and CQE. Ohio Justice and Policy Center (ohiojpc.org) provides the Criminal Records Manual. ---