The Acquired Brain Injury Home and Community-based Services Waiver is for people who have a documented brain injury, are 18 years of age or older, and require the level of care provided in a nursing facility. The waiver allows the use of Medicaid funds outside of institutional settings.
The following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
For the most recent completed fiscal year, the following information represents the purposes for which the money was used:
The Acquired Brain Injury Waiver is considered a statewide program including all rural areas and is open to all residents of Utah with intellectual disabilities eligible for care. There is no statutory requirement for distribution of funds or allocation of slots by geographic region. The Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) "does not distribute funds based on location, but rather based on the unique needs of the individual receiving services. Persons are not brought into DSPD services based on location but rather the severity of their needs, and those with the most severe needs are brought into services first . . . DSPD serves Utahns in greatest need of services without consideration of their location."
Services provided under this waiver include:
- Case Management: Assists people in gaining access to needed services
- Respite Care Services: Gives regular caregivers short-term relief
- Supported Employment: Pays wages for a job coach for persons who require assistance on the job
- Specialized Medical Equipment: Includes special equipment designed to assist with mobility and communication
- Chore Services: Assists in keeping a home or apartment clean, sanitary, and safe
- Emergency Response System: Provides a device that lets high-risk individuals call for help in cases of emergency
- Companion Services: Offers non-medical care, supervision, and social activities given to adults who have a difficult time functioning
- Family Training: Provides training and counseling services to families to assist with the care of the person receiving waiver services
- Structured Day Programs: Offers supervised activities to help maintain independence
- Residential Habilitative Supports: Provides intensive to intermittent residential services in host homes, supervised apartments, and supported living
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.