Utah Medicaid Resources:

• State Medicaid Website: Utah
• Utah Developmental Disabilities Council Website
• Chapters of the Arc in Utah

Utah Medicaid Facts: From Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Fact Sheet (2009)

There are 35,900 people with disabilities covered by Medicaid in Utah. Utah spent $16,364 for each Medicaid recipient with a disability in 2007.

Only 12% of all people covered by Medicaid in Utah have a disability, which is lower than the national percentage of Medicaid recipients with a disability (15%).

Utah spends 43% of all the money it spends on Medicaid on services for people with disabilities, though, while the national percentage of Medicaid spending on these services is 42%.

Utah Choice of Health Care Delivery:

This program provides children and adults with disabilities with access to basic medical services. You may not always get to choose your service provider under this plan. This plan does not serve people with disabilities living in state-run institutions or intermediate care facilities.

• Health: diabetes self-management, durable medical equipment, enhanced services for pregnant women, early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment, family planning, hearing, HIV prevention, hospice, immunization, hospital, medical detoxification, laboratory, medical supplies, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician, podiatry, private duty nursing, skilled nursing facility, speech therapy, vision, well-adult care, x-ray
• Home: home health, personal care
• Social Services: case management

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation:

This program provides adults and children with disabilities with transportation to scheduled medical appointments.

• Community: transportation (medical)

Prepaid Mental Health Plan:

This plan covers adults and children with disabilities for mental health services.

• Community: transportation
• Health: crisis treatment, rehabilitation, inpatient, residential, outpatient treatment

Acquired Brain Injury waiver:

This waiver is designed to help people with acquired brain injuries remain in their homes by providing nursing services.

Ages: 18 and older

• Community: community living supports, non-medical transportation, structured day programs
• Health: personal emergency response systems, specialized medical equipment
• Home: chore services, companion services, family assistance and support, homemaker services, respite care
• Social Services: support coordination
• Work: supported employment

Community Supports waiver (for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Related Conditions:

This waiver is intended to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to live in their own homes instead of in institutions. There is no age restriction for this waiver, but the disability must become apparent before the age of 18 in most cases.

Level of Care: intermediate

Restrictions: There is currently a waiting list for this waiver, as it can only serve a limited number of people.

• Community: day supports, non-medical transportation
• Health: behavioral consultation, personal emergency response systems, massage therapy, assistance with medication, specialized medical equipment
• Home: chore services, companion services, environmental adaptations, extended living supports, individual and family training, homemaker services, living start-up costs, personal assistance, residential habilitation, respite care, supported living
• Social Services: support coordination, financial management services
• Work: supported employment

New Choices waiver:

This waiver is designed to help people who are living in nursing homes move out and begin their lives in the community, or to prevent people from having to move into nursing homes.

Ages: 21 and older

Level of Care: nursing

Restrictions: This waiver can only serve 1,000 people at a time.

• Community: adult day care, institutional transition services, non-medical transportation
• Health: assistive technology devices, consumer preparation services, personal emergency response systems, habilitation, help with medication, behavioral health services, specialized medical equipment, and supportive maintenance
• Home: residential services, attendant care and caregiver training, chore services, environmental accessibility modifications, home delivered meals, homemaker services, personal budget assistance, respite care
• Social Services: case management, financial management services

Physical Disabilities waiver:

This waiver applies to people with physical disabilities. Participants in this waiver must be able to direct their own care, including supervising, training, and managing their own attendant. They must also be able to manage their own money and legal matters. People served under this waiver must have someone who is either trained as an attendant or willing to be trained as an attendant for them.

Ages: 18 and older

Level of Care: nursing

Option for Self-Direction: This waiver places the responsibility for directing care on the person with the disability.

Restrictions: This waiver can only serve a limited number of individuals, and there is currently a waiting list for this waiver.

• Health: consumer preparation services, personal emergency response systems,
• Home: personal assistance services
• Social Services: support coordination, financial management services

Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Children waiver:

This waiver applies to people who need intensive supports for chronic medical conditions. Although this waiver can only serve a limited number of children at a time, parents’ income is not counted in deciding whether or not the child is eligible. The purpose of this waiver is to help children remain at home with their families instead of nursing institutions. Under this waiver Medicaid pays for all services, and agencies work with families to develop complete intensive care plans.

• Ages: 21 and under