CMS to Utah: No enhanced federal match for partial Medicaid expansion 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday said it will not provide enhanced federal funding for Utah to provide Medicaid coverage to adults under age 65 with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level, saying it will continue its recent policy to only approve enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid demonstrations that expand coverage up to 138% of the federal poverty level. CMS in March approved a Section 1115 waiver allowing Utah to amend its Primary Care Network demonstration to provide Medicaid coverage to adults under age 65 with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level, less than the 138% FPL required to receive enhanced federal matching funds under the Affordable Care Act. The waiver also requires certain adults in the program to register to apply for work to remain eligible. Utah later asked CMS to approve enhanced federal matching funds for the demonstration, among other new proposals. A number of other states also have asked CMS for permission to cover only a portion of the adult expansion group and still access the enhanced federal funding.