House approves pilot to let some Medicaid recipients volunteer in lieu of copays; bill passes 56–15

Summary

The House passed House Bill 211 on Feb. 2, 2011, creating a small pilot (target under 100 participants) to let certain Primary Care Network Medicaid recipients perform community service as an alternative to copays; supporters framed it as voluntary and experimental, while opponents called it punitive and raised federal-waiver and equity concerns.

The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 2 passed House Bill 211, a measure authorizing a small pilot program that would require certain adults in the Primary Care Network (PCN), ages 19–64, to perform community service as an alternative to paying co-pays. The bill passed the House 56–15 and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.

Representative Menlove, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the pilot would be limited in scope — “less than 100” participants — and aimed to test whether voluntary service could be a constructive alternative for recipients who cannot make co-payments. Menlove said the pilot would seek permission from the federal government to operate as a waiver and that the Department of Health and Medicaid Division would define eligibility and operational details.

Supporters described the pilot as an opportunity to give participants a sense of contribution and to develop job skills. Representative Richardson said the program could incentivize participation and help people move off Medicaid, and Representative Da…

House approves pilot to let some Medicaid recipients volunteer in lieu of copays; bill passes 56–15

Summary

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