Medicaid Coverage for Justice-Involved Population and UPP Premium Reimbursement Increase Public Hearings

The Utah Department of Health, Division of Medicaid and Health Financing (DMHF), will hold public hearings to discuss amendments to the State’s 1115 Demonstration Waiver. The Department will also accept public comment regarding these demonstration amendments during the 30-day public comment period from May 18, 2020 through June 17, 2020.

The DMHF is requesting authority to implement provisions of House Bill 38 "Substance Use and Health Care Amendments" and House Bill 436 "Health and Human Services Amendments", which passed during the 2020 Utah Legislative Session. The amendment requests includes the following provisions:

Medicaid Coverage for Justice-Involved Populations (HB 38) opens in a new tab

  • This amendment will allow the State to provide Medicaid coverage to “qualified inmates” for up to 30 days before release from a correctional facility.
  • A "qualified inmate" is an individual who is incarcerated in a correctional facility and has a chronic physical or behavioral health condition, a mental illness as defined in Utah State Code Section 62A-15-602, or an opioid use disorder.

Utah’s Premium Partnership for Health Insurance (UPP) Premium Reimbursement Increase (HB 436) opens in a new tab

  • This amendment request will allow the State to increase the maximum UPP reimbursement amount for adults (age 19 through 64), from $150 per enrollee per month, to a higher amount through the state administrative rulemaking process, rather than by waiver amendment.
  • If approved, initially the maximum UPP reimbursement amount for adults will be $300 per enrollee per month.

Public Hearings

The Department will conduct two public hearings to discuss the demonstration amendments. The dates and times are listed below. Due to the COVID-19 emergency and state social distancing guidelines, both public hearings will be held via video and teleconferencing.

  • Thursday, May 21, 2020 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (during the Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) meeting)
  • Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Individuals requiring an accommodation to fully participate in either meeting may contact Jennifer Meyer-Smart at email jmeyersmart@utah.gov or 385-215-4735 by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020.

Public Comment

A copy of the public notice and proposed amendments are available here.

The public may comment on the proposed amendment requests during the 30-day public comment period from May 18, 2020 through June 17, 2020.

Comments may be submitted online or by:

Email: Medicaid1115waiver@utah.gov

Mail:  Utah Department of Health
      Division of Medicaid and Health Financing
      PO Box 143106
      Salt Lake City, UT 84114-3106
Attn: Jennifer Meyer-Smart