Senate moves to authorize limited-supports Medicaid waiver to reach more Utahns with disabilities

Senators debated and ultimately approved legislation to authorize a limited-supports waiver that the governor's budget requested to expand services for people with disabilities.

Senator Hemmert, sponsor of Senate Bill 260, told the Senate the bill would allow the state to offer a "limited supports waiver," a service option outside the current statutory split within the comprehensive waiver, enabling earlier access to services for an estimated more than 900 families and individuals. He said the change "allows funding for the limited supports waiver to operate independently" of current statutory restrictions.

Members pressed for fiscal detail during floor discussion. Senator Hilliard and others said they could not find a fiscal note online; Hilliard quoted numbers from the fiscal documentation during debate, characterizing components of the fiscal note as involving state and federal funds. Senator Hemmert moved to circle the bill while staff locate the fiscal note; the bill was circled for further work.

Later in the day the Senate returned the bill for floor action; after additional presentations senators voted to pass SB 260. The roll call recorded 26 yay votes, 0 nay votes, and 3 absences. Sponsor statements and floor discussion noted that while the waiver could expand access and, in the sponsor's view, help control costs by matching services more precisely to individual need, the bill carried a sizable fiscal note and could require federal approval to implement the waiver.

The bill passed the Senate and will be transmitted to the House for further consideration and any appropriations necessary to implement the waiver.