Group: Health & Human Services - Department of Health

Agency: Health

Line Item: Medicaid Mandatory Services

Function

Medicaid is a joint federal/state entitlement service consisting of three programs that provide health care to selected low-income populations: (1) a health insurance program for low-income parents (mostly mothers) and children; (2) a long-term care program for the elderly; and (3) services program to people with disabilities. Overall, Medicaid is an "optional" program, one that a state can elect to offer. However, if a state offers the program, it must abide by strict federal regulations. It also becomes an entitlement program for qualified individuals; that is, anyone who meets specific eligibility criteria is "entitled" to Medicaid services. The federal government establishes and monitors certain requirements concerning funding, and establishes standards for quality and scope of medical services. Requirements include services that must be provided and specific populations that must be served. States may expand their program to cover additional 'optional' services and/or 'optional' populations. In addition, states have some flexibility in determining certain aspects of their own programs in the areas of eligibility, reimbursement rates, benefits, and service delivery.

Most providers for Medicaid must meet Medicare provider requirements to receive reimbursement for serving Medicaid clients. Additionally, they must accept Medicaid reimbursement as payment in full. The provider may charge the patient for services that are not covered by Medicaid only when the provider has advised the patient in advance that the services are not covered and the patient has agreed in writing to pay for the services. Medicaid does not pay for any services not considered medically necessary.

The client's Medicaid Identification Card will state when a co-pay is required and for what type of services. Pregnant women and children are not subject to the co-pay requirement. The provider is responsible to collect the co-pay at the time of service or bill the client. The amount of the client's co-pay is deducted from the total money paid to the provider.

There are currently 53 services included in the entire Medicaid Program. Of these, inpatient hospital, outpatient hospital, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, long-term care, physician, dental, pharmacy, and health maintenance organizations make up approximately 60 percent of all Medicaid expenditures. Medicaid services in Utah are accounted for in two budgetary line items: Medicaid Mandatory Services and Medicaid Optional Services. The line dividing mandatory and optional services is occasionally blurred by the fact that some optional services are mandatory for specific populations or in specific settings. For example, the federal government requires more services be provided to children and pregnant women. Additionally, clients in institutionalized settings must be provided a wider range of services. A brief description of each service is found in a list of defined terms.

Mandatory services in the Medicaid Program are those that the federal government requires to be offered if a state has a Medicaid program. These include: inpatient and outpatient hospital, physician services, skilled and intermediate care nursing facilities, medical transportation, home health, nurse midwife, pregnancy-related services, lab and radiology, kidney dialysis, Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment, and special reimbursement to community and rural health centers. The State is also required to pay Medicare premiums and co-insurance deductibles for aged, blind, and disabled persons with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Additionally, the State pays for Medicare premiums for qualifying individuals with incomes up to 120 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

There are six programs within the Medicaid Mandatory Services line item, which include Inpatient Hospital, Contracted Health Plans, Nursing Home, Outpatient Hospital, Physician Services, and Other Mandatory Services.

While federal law and regulations currently mandate some specific services within the program, the State has some flexibility and has been granted waivers that allow some latitude in program implementation, as well as to offer some additional optional services.

The Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program, called Child Health Evaluation and Care in Utah, is a mandatory program which requires the State to screen all Medicaid children at scheduled intervals. The mandate includes providing all medically necessary services, such as organ transplants or any other service needed, regardless of cost. Utah's 12 local health departments participate in providing the services for this program.

The State has designated five major population groupings that may receive health care from the Medicaid Program. These include: (1) the elderly or disabled who receive federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and persons in nursing facilities (grouped together as aged), (2) blind and/or disabled individuals, (3) children who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, or are in the Foster Care program, (4) TANF adults, with dependent children, and (5) pregnant women. Each of these groups is discussed in more detail later in this section.

Aged

Individuals aged 65 and over qualify for Medicaid if they qualify for SSI, which provides an income of approximately 77.6 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). They also qualify for food stamps. Many of the elderly also qualify for Medicare coverage. The Medicaid Program pays for the premiums and deductibles for those eligible under both programs. Medicare pays the actual medical cost for most of these people. Medicaid is also required to pay Medicare premiums, co-insurance, and deductibles for anyone qualifying for Medicare who has income up to 100 percent of FPL, but only has to pay Medicare premiums for those between 100 and 135 percent of FPL. Medicare has a 100 day limit for services in nursing care facilities. For eligible clients, Medicaid pays for the nursing care services after the expiration of Medicare benefits.

Medicaid also covers non-SSI aged people whose income does not exceed 100 percent of FPL. Aged people with income over 100 percent of FPL can spend down to the Medically Needy Income Limit (100% of FPL) to receive Medicaid.

A Medicaid waiver has been approved for the Division of Aging and Adult Services, which allows Medicaid to pay for some services in home and community-based settings. The waiver diverts some elderly people from nursing facility care.

Blind and Disabled

Persons receiving assistance due to blindness have always been part of the Medicaid Program. Persons with disabilities are also eligible for services under the Medicaid Program. The criteria for disability require that a person be unable to participate in gainful activity for at least a year, or have a medical condition that will result in death. Among the disabilities covered are mental retardation, mental health, spinal injury, and AIDS. Income is limited to 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level for blind and disabled individuals. An asset test similar to that for TANF is required. Eligible individuals also qualify for food stamps.

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Foster Care

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was a joint federal-state program which provided financial assistance to families with children deprived of the support of at least one parent. In 1996, AFDC was replaced with block grants to the states and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). In general, people who meet AFDC eligibility criteria that were in effect on July 16, 1996 are eligible for Medicaid. Also, those people who qualify for a TANF grant may be eligible for Medicaid.

The Medically Needy Children program is for children who do not qualify for assistance under normal Family Medicaid because they are not deprived of the support of a parent. The asset test is the same as for TANF; the family is allowed to spend down to become eligible. This is an optional group, meaning it is not required by the federal government, and so coverage could be terminated. Many children who have been eligible for this group in the past have become eligible in the mandatory programs for children.

In addition to the previously mentioned TANF children, there are four groups of children covered under the Medicaid Program. These are (1) medically needy children, (2) children under age 6 with family income up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), (3) children and youth from age 6 through 18 with income up to 100 percent of FPL, (4) children in subsidized adoptions.

The program for children under age six with family income up to 133 percent of FPL is a mandatory program. The program for children born after September 30, 1983 with family income up to 100 percent of the FPL is designed to provide coverage for children in poverty. There is an asset test required for children in this category of $3,000 for a family of two; one home (primary residency only) is exempted, and a car with an equity value of $1,500 is allowed.

Children in Foster Care are eligible for Medicaid coverage if they meet Medicaid Program requirements. The State is responsible for their medical care. Most children placed in foster care have histories of abuse or neglect. This often means there are unresolved medical and mental health problems that must be dealt with. Each year, a number of children come into the custody of the State and are placed for adoption. Some of these children have serious medical problems which makes them hard to place. In some of these cases, the State subsidizes the adoption. Some families receive a small stipend to assist in the cost of care for these children, and the State covers the child's medical care under Medicaid until the child is 18 years old. Some foster care graduates receive Medicaid services until they turn 21 through the Independent Living Program.

TANF Adults

The group referred to as TANF Adults includes those adults with dependent children who are either categorically or medically needy and meet the basic program requirements. Some of the individuals may be required to "spend down" to obtain Medicaid services, which means that they must reduce their disposable income with payments to Medicaid or with medical bills which they have incurred.

There are two groups of people who qualify for Medicaid under the TANF Program. These include: (1) those in the basic program where a child is deprived of the support of one parent, and (2) those in two-parent families that qualify under the unemployed parent program. Over 90 percent of eligible families are deprived because of divorce, desertion, or unwed mothers. TANF families may also qualify for food stamps. Depending on family size, the TANF grant and food stamps provide between 62 and 74 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. There is an asset limit of $3,000 for families in the TANF Program. The asset limit does not include a primary residence or a car with an equity value of less than $8,000.

In addition to the basic Family Employment Program (FEP), there is also a program for unemployed two-parent families. This program provides cash assistance for seven months in any 13-month period. One parent in families in this program is required to work 32 hours a week (in an emergency work program) and spend at least 8 hours a week seeking regular employment. With the exception of the time limitation and work requirement, the criteria and benefits for the Family Employment Program - Two Parent are the same as those for the regular FEP. Federal law requires that the family be eligible for Medicaid for the full 12 months of the year. Besides those eligible through FEP cash assistance, there are several programs which provide transitional Medicaid coverage for periods of 4 months (for child support-related eligibles) or 24 months (for people who no longer receive cash assistance due to child support payments or earnings).

Pregnancy

The prenatal/pregnancy program helps pregnant women receive prenatal care. The program covers the mother from the time of application to 60 days after the birth. A woman only needs to meet the eligibility requirements in any one month to be eligible for the balance of the pregnancy. Children born to women on this program can be covered on Medicaid (after the first 60 days) for the rest of the first year under the postnatal program.

Statutory Authority

Medicaid Mandatory Services is governed by several chapters of the Utah Health Code in Title 26 of the Utah Code.

• UCA 26-18 establishes the Medical Assistance Program, commonly referred to as Medicaid and its administrative arm, the Division of Health Care Financing.
• UCA 26-19 authorizes the Department to recover Medicaid benefits paid by the Division from third parties, including estates and trusts.
• UCA 26-35a creates the Nursing Care Facilities Account and levies an assessment on the owners of nursing care facilities to generate seed money which draws down additional federal funds for the operation of those facilities.

Intent Language

General Funds appropriated to this line item are contingent upon expenditures from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1, 111th United States Congress) not exceeding amounts authorized above. If expenditures in this line item from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act exceed amounts appropriated to this line item from that source in FY 2010, the Division of Finance shall reduce the General Fund allocations to this line item by one dollar for every one dollar in Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expenditures that exceed Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriations.

All General Funds appropriated to Medicaid Mandatory Services are contingent upon expenditures from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1, 111th United States Congress) not exceeding amounts appropriated from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in all appropriation bills passed for FY 2009. If expenditures in Medicaid Mandatory Services from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act exceed amounts appropriated to Medicaid Mandatory Services from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in FY 2009, the Division of Finance shall reduce the General Fund allocations to Medicaid Mandatory Services by one dollar for every one dollar in Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expenditures that exceed Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriations.

Funding Detail

For analysis of current budget requests and discussion of issues related to this budget click here.

Program: Inpatient Hospital

Function

Inpatient Hospital means services provided by bed occupancy for 24 hours or more in an approved hospital. Medicaid covers inpatient visits at a hospital for most services without a prior authorization. Some services may require a prior authorization. Some imaging services require manual review for medical necessity after the service.

A hospital which accepts a Medicaid patient for treatment accepts the responsibility to make sure that the patient receives all medically necessary services from Medicaid providers. Readmissions within 30 days for the same or similar principal diagnosis may be denied or, at the option of the State, be combined with the claim for the first admission.

Medicaid clients have a $220 co-insurance payment for inpatient hospital services.

Funding Detail

Program: Contracted Health Plans

Function

The majority of Utah Medicaid clients are enrolled with one of 3 contracted health plans: Molina, Select Access (Intermountain Healthcare), and Healthy U (University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics). The contracts with each provider are described below:

1. Molina - as of September 1, 2009 Molina has a fully risk-based contract. Molina receives a per member per month payment for each Medicaid client in their program and assumes the risk of paying for all of the incurred costs.
2. Select Access - Medicaid processes claims for Select Access members and pays Select Access' providers based on Medicaid's fee schedule. Medicaid also pays Select Access a service network fee per member per month.
3. Healthy U - Medicaid pays Healthy U the amount they pay their providers and an administrative fee for each claim. Healthy U processes and pays the claims for their providers.

Funding Detail

Program: Nursing Home

Function

Medicaid clients must meet nursing facility level of care as described in Administrative Rule R414.502 to receive this service. Additionally, clients must pass a low asset test to qualify for this service. The asset test includes a 'look back period' of 5 years where asset transfers are examined to determine if an inappropriate transfer of assets took place. Any findings of improper transfers delay Medicaid qualification. Once a client qualifies for nursing home care, there is no limit on the time they receive that care for as long as they continue to qualify. Additionally, federal law mandates that clients receiving this service are entitled to whatever benefits are prescribed by their supervising physician. The Medicare program has a 100 day annual limit for nursing home services. Medicare clients who also qualify for Medicaid would have any nursing home service days above 100 paid for by Medicaid.

The federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posts the results of nursing home inspections on their website. These surveys indicate the home's compliance with performance measure regulations.

The restrictions on building new nursing facilities is described in UCA 26-18-502 and UCA 26-18-503.

Any individual working in a nursing facility as a nurse aide for more than four months on a full-time basis must have successfully completed a nurse aide training and/or competency evaluation program approved by the State.

Medicaid nursing home clients are permitted to retain a fixed monthly amount for personal needs. For most individuals expected to stay longer than 6 months in long-term care the permitted allowance is $45 monthly. In most cases, the client's account balance cannot exceed $2,000 without risking a loss of Medicaid eligibility due to asset level requirements. Medicaid determines the amount of income the Medicaid client must pay to the facility in order to be eligible for Medicaid.

Funding Detail

Program: Outpatient Hospital

Function

Outpatient hospital services are provided for less than 24 hours and must be medically necessary and appropriate to diagnose or treat illness, disability or pain. Medicaid covers outpatient visits at a hospital for most services without a prior authorization. Some surgeries may require a prior authorization.

Medicaid clients have a $3 co-payment for outpatient hospital services. Medicaid clients have a $6 co-payment for non-emergency use of the emergency room.

Funding Detail

Program: Physician Services

Function

Medicaid clients may visit any willing physician provider to receive services. This includes any specialist physician. Medicaid clients must have a medical need for seeking physician services as Medicaid does not pay for annual wellness or preventive health visits. Most non-pregnant adults are charged a $3 copay for a doctor's visit.

Funding Detail

Program: Other Mandatory Services

Function

Other mandatory services include Home Health Services, Rural Health Clinic, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health, Radiology, Laboratory, and Well Child Care. Detailed coverage information is contained in the Medicaid provider manuals.

Funding Detail