All Medicaid Programs |
Obsolete Policy |
Policy Effective: December 1, 2014 - July 31, 2015
Foster Care
Foster Care Medicaid provides medical coverage to children who:
Have been removed from their home AND
Are in the custody of the state AND
Are in an out of home placement AND
A Foster Care maintenance payment is being made.
Children may be placed in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), the Department of Human Services (DHS), or the Division of Juvenile Justice Services (DJJS).
NOTE: When a child is placed with a parent or other Non-Parent Caretaker Relative (also known as “Preliminary Placement” or Kinship care), DWS will determine eligibility (IE: Child Age 0-5, Child Age 6-18).
This is true even if the child is still in state custody.
“Preliminary Placement” is when the Specified Relative is NOT receiving a FC maintenance payment and may be in the process of becoming a licensed Foster Care provider, but are not yet licensed.
Title IV-E Foster Child
When another state places a Title IV-E foster child in Utah, Utah is responsible to provide Medicaid for the child.
Non-Title IV-E Foster Child
When another state places a non-Title IV-E foster child in Utah, the state making the placement is responsible to provide Medicaid for the child.
Guardianship Program
The Division of Child and Family Services has a program called the Guardianship Program. The Guardianship Program provides financial assistance to children who do not wish to be adopted, but still need to be placed in a home other than their parents or specified relative.
The services associated with this program are similar to the Foster Care Program.
Children in the Guardianship program are not in the custody of the State.
In certain counties, mental health services are provided under a capitated mental health plan. Unlike the Foster Care program, the Guardianship program does not allow a child to obtain mental health services on a fee-for-service basis when the child resides in a county that is under the capitated plan. The child must receive services under the capitated mental health plan or Medicaid will not pay for the services.
A child receiving Guardianship assistance should not be opened for Foster Care Medicaid.
Instead, a program such as Child Age 0-5, Child Age 6-18, DM, or Medically Needy Child should be opened.
Complete Duty of Support papers against the legal parents, not the guardian.
Count only the income and assets available to the child. Do not count the income or assets of the guardian.
All other Medicaid policy applies.
Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Medicaid
DHS has created a Kinship Guardianship program for youth aged 14-18 who live with a relative to provide the child a permanent, safe living arrangement. The relative will receive a Federal Title IV-E subsidy, which usually ends when the child ages out at 18 years old. The following requirements must be met.
The child cannot safely return home.
The child does not want to be adopted and,
The child has developed a significant bond with the relative.
The Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Medicaid is the accompanying Medicaid category for those youth. DHS is the agency which approves the Medicaid eligibility. Section 354-5 for details.
Former Foster Care Children
Beginning January 1, 2014, persons aged 18-26 who had been in foster care in the past may qualify for Medicaid. The Former Foster Care program is for persons who age out of foster care on or after their 18th birthday. They had to be receiving Medicaid when they left foster care. They can receive this coverage until they reach age 26. See Sections 354-3.
Foster Care Independent Living
The Foster Care Independent Living program is for persons who age out of foster care on or after their 18th birthday. They did not have to be eligible for Medicaid when they left foster care. They can receive this coverage until they reach age 21. See section 354-4.