House approves requiring workers' compensation for certain Medicaid‑funded in‑home caregivers

The Utah House passed House Bill 94, which removes an existing exemption and requires workers' compensation coverage for home and community‑based workers who are publicly funded through the Medicaid waiver self‑administered services program. Representative Edwards, sponsor, said the bill is targeted narrowly to the roughly 1,481 individuals receiving state Medicaid funds in the program and that it is designed to protect both employees and the families who employ them.

Edwards explained the bill does not affect other in‑home domestic employer‑employee relationships and that it protects families from potential litigation if a caregiver is injured in a private home or during community activities. An amendment in Edwards' name delayed the effective date to July 1, 2015, to allow the division an appropriation cycle to budget for the coverage and moved the hourly threshold from five to seven hours to qualify for coverage. Representative Dunnegan offered a friendly amendment to ensure workers' pay would not be cut to pay for coverage.

Supporters said the requirement will make caregiving jobs more likely to attract employees by offering basic workplace protections and said it avoids forcing families to place people in institutional settings. On final passage the House recorded 61 ayes and 11 nays. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.

Why it matters: The bill extends workplace protection to a narrowly defined group of publicly funded in‑home caregivers, aiming to stabilize the workforce, protect employees, and keep people with disabilities in home settings when appropriate.

What’s next: HB94 will move to the Senate for further consideration.