Utah receives waiver for limited Medicaid expansion

Nov 03, 2017 - 08:44 AM

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week approved a waiver allowing Utah to expand Medicaid services to up to 6,000 low-income adults without children. Adults with incomes up to 5% percent of the federal poverty line who are chronically homeless or suffer from substance use issues would gain coverage, and the state will begin enrolling individuals newly eligible for Medicaid immediately. CMS also approved a Section 1115 waiver for Utah for a demonstration project to provide residential substance abuse treatment services to Medicaid recipients. The approval was part of a new CMS policy that allows states to design demonstration projects that increase access to treatment for opioid use disorders and other SUDs. “Utah’s hospitals have worked with Rep. Dunnigan and Gov. Herbert’s administration on this waiver request from the beginning,” said Greg Bell, president and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association. “The waiver is one step in finding uniquely Utah solutions to increase health care coverage in our state. We look forward to working with our members, our public health partners and the Utah state legislature to continue to innovate and identify coverage solutions that work for our communities.”

Related News Articles

Headline
CMS approves Ariz. Medicaid waiver with work requirement
The Centers for Medicare…
Perspective
Perspective: Turning the Tide on the Prescription Drug Spending Crisis
Last week, I shared a few areas where we can advance health in America this year, even in a divided Congress.
Headline
FDA takes steps to spur OTC versions of naloxone
To encourage drug companies to seek approval for over-the-counter versions of naloxone, an emergency treatment for opioid overdose, the Food and Drug…
Headline
CDC: Rural patients more likely to receive opioid prescription
Patients in the most rural counties had an 87 percent greater chance of receiving an opioid prescription from their primary care provider between January 2014…
Headline
AHA Releases New Report that Shows Continued Rising Drug Prices and Drug Shortages are Disrupting Patient Care, Hospital Budgets
Continued rising drug prices, as well as shortages for many critical medications, are disrupting patient care and forcing hospitals to delay infrastructure and…
Headline
AHA recommends certain changes to Medicaid/CHIP managed care rule
AHA said it generally supports CMS’ efforts to grant greater state-level flexibility and reduce regulatory burden, but urged the agency to ensure Medicaid…