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House approves pilot to let Medicaid pay for medical respite for homeless Utahns
Summary
House Bill 34 directs the Department of Health to apply for a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver to allow Medicaid‑eligible homeless Utahns to be discharged to medical respite facilities rather than remain hospitalized or cycle through emergency care; sponsors say the program reduces ER readmissions and federal costs.
The Utah House passed House Bill 34 on Monday to enable a medical respite pilot for people experiencing homelessness. Sponsor Representative Dunnegan told the House the bill directs the Health Department to apply for a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver to allow Medicaid funds to cover medical respite facilities where stabilized patients can recover outside a hospital.
Supporters said the model would provide daily living assistance and medical care for patients who otherwise cycle back to emergency departments, and that it could produce a favorable return on investment by reducing expensive hospital stays. Representative Eliason and Representative Hollins spoke in support, noting the bill targets chronically homeless people with combined medical and behavioral health needs.
Representative Dunnegan clarified the bill does not create a new eligibility class; rather it makes an existing Medicaid‑eligible population eligible to receive services in medical respite settings and encourages earlier discharge from hospital settings when clinically appropriate. He estimated the change would improve outcomes and reduce state costs through federal matching funds.
The House passed HB34 73–0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
