The Center for Medicare and Medicaid approved an expansion to the Utah Health Program beginning January 1, 2020. This service is meant to extend medical eligibility to more adults, emphasizing those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This expansion is expected to touch the lives of 120,000 adults who did not previously qualify for Medicaid.

On the other hand, more eligible adults will be expected to pass a self-sufficiency test for inclusion into the benefits of the expansion. This test will exclude any adult member meeting one of the 13 exemption criteria, such as being over 60 years old, taking custody of young children, being a student, being pregnant, or working a minimum of 30 hours a week. 

Any adult under the self-sufficiency program must perform an online assessment for a job, carry out 48 job searches in the first three months, complete online training programs, or face termination of benefits.

According to the Utah Governor, the decision by CMS to expand Medicaid is a definitive sign that every state can craft unique, viable solutions to make better healthcare services available to the people while operating under the law.

This expansion also covers dental benefits to recipients of Medicaid well over 65 years of age and citizens under substance abuse treatment programs. This comes despite Utah officials estimating that about 6,000 to 8,000 beneficiaries of Medicaid may not comply with work requirements set by the state.

The question for debate is; should Utah retain or get rid of its Medicaid expansion?