Utah Moving Forward with Plans To Expand Medicaid Program Despite State Budget Shortfall
Despite Utah's state budget deficit, officials are moving ahead with plans to launch a Medicaid waiver program, the Salt Lake City Deseret News reports. Under the program, Utah will limit benefits for about 17,600 adult beneficiaries in order to provide limited benefits to 25,000 uninsured people. Enrollment in the program will begin July 1 (Thalman, Salt Lake City Desert News, 5/22). State officials plan to redistribute funds to finance the expansion, and as a result, the state will receive additional federal funds (Betit, Health Department brief, 5/2). Although critics have said the program will set a "dangerous precedent" by allowing the state to assume control over federally mandated benefits, state officials say the waiver will provide coverage to the increasing number of people who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage but cannot afford private insurance (Salt Lake City Deseret News, 5/22).
Utah's Experiment
People ages 19 to 64 who have been uninsured for at least six months and have annual incomes less than 150% of the federal poverty level are eligible to enroll in the program. Unlike typical Medicaid coverage, benefits under the program include only primary care, preventive care and some emergency coverage. Hospitalization, prescription drugs, nonemergency transportation, some dental services and eyeglasses are not covered. Substance abuse treatment, chiropractic care and physical and occupational therapy also will not be covered in the waiver program. Beneficiaries under the waiver program must pay an annual fee, copayments for certain services and a maximum deductible of $1,000. The waiver is the first the federal government has approved that limits benefits for current beneficiaries to expand coverage (Betit, Health Department brief, 5/2).
