Medicaid Adult Expansion

By June 30, 2018, the Utah Department of Health will request authorization from the federal government to make several
significant changes to the Utah Medicaid program. Three bills from the 2018 Legislative Session require these changes:

• House Bill 472 “Medicaid Expansion Revisions”
• House Bill 435 “Medicaid Dental Benefits”
• House Bill 12 “Family Planning Services Amendments”

Specifically, the Department is requesting the authority to implement Medicaid eligibility for adults, aged 19–64 who earn
up to 95 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $12,140 per year. Projected enrollment for this program expansion is approximately 90,000 individuals. In addition, the amendment adds a work requirement for this adult group, requires adults to purchase employer-sponsored insurance (if available), and requests the ability to close program enrollment if projected costs are higher than available funding.

The Department is also requesting authority to:

• Add dental benefits for Targeted Adult Medicaid members who are receiving substance use disorder (SUD) treatment (approximately 3,000 individuals)
• Implement Medicaid eligibility for adults not otherwise eligible for Medicaid to provide them with family planning services (approximately 11,200 individuals)
• Provide specific services to at-risk Medicaid eligible children and youth in state custody or those at risk of being placed in state custody, and their families (approximately 720 children/youth)

More information about these waiver amendment requests, the public comment process, and the full waiver application is available on the Medicaid website: https://medicaid.utah.gov/1115-waiver.

Suicide rising across US; increased by almost 50 percent in Utah

Utah suicide rates increase by almost 50 percent

Suicide rates in Utah have increased by 46.5 percent, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Utah has the fifth highest increase in suicide rates in the country.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US. Suicide rates increased in nearly every state from 1999 through 2016. Mental health conditions are often seen as the cause of suicide, but suicide is rarely caused by any single factor. In fact, many people who die by suicide are not known to have a diagnosed mental health condition at the time of death. Other problems often contribute to suicide, such as those related to relationships, substance use, physical health, and job, money, legal, or housing stress. Making sure government, public health, healthcare, employers, education, the media and community organizations are working together is important for preventing suicide. Public health departments can bring together these partners to focus on comprehensive state and community efforts with the greatest likelihood of preventing suicide. 

Read entire report.

Join OHD's national webinar presentation: Oral Health Disparities in Urban Settings

Oral Health Disparities in Urban Settings: A Strategic Approach to Access to Care Presenter: Brittney Okada, MPH, CHES June 12, 2018, 2:00 PM CST This webinar will highlight the Utah Office of Health Disparities’ (OHD) innovative and strategic approach to refocusing services for underserved communities from one-time services to investments in solutions for long-term access to care. It will cover the contents of OHD’s recently published white paper on understanding and addressing oral health disparities through the social determinants of health and share approaches tied to the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities’ (NPA) goals of awareness, leadership, health system and life experience, cultural and linguistic competency, and data research and evaluation.  Register here.  Oral Health America's Webinar Series consists of monthly webinars to provide a forum for programs to share information about promising practices and innovative projects. Marshall Dentistry and Oral Surgery enables OHA to offer CE credits for our webinars to dental and nursing professionals as well as social workers!

June is Men’s Health Month

June is Men’s Health Month. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys and men in the United States, on average, die 5.6 years earlier than women and die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 leading causes of death. During Men’s Health Month, the HHS Office of Minority Health and advocates throughout the country are encouraging boys and men to seek early detection treatment or screenings for preventable health problems. The observance also gives health care providers and policymakers the opportunity to provide medical advice and early treatments for injury and disease.

This year, the Office of Minority Health will focus on the Five Plays for Men’s Health campaign to encourage men and their families to practice and implement healthy decisions and habits. The plays will highlight the importance of heart health, daily exercise, regular check-ups, smoking dangers and mental health.

Visit the Office of Minority of Health website to download the Five Plays for Men’s Health materials and to learn more about men’s health.   

Help People Learn to Manage Chronic Conditions

 Help People Learn to Manage Chronic Conditions

The Active Aging Program of Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services is recruiting volunteers who are interested in helping teach persons with chronic health conditions about ways to manage their symptoms. Living Well with Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program is a workshop given two and a half hours, once a week, for six weeks. People with different chronic health problems attend together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, on or both of whome are non-health professionals with a chronic disease themselves. Workshops are free. Peer Leaders will need to attend the program training on June 12-14 from 9 am to 4:30 pm, at the University of Utah Farmington Health Center. Contact Erika Thompson at 385-468-3088 or email to learn more. 

Urban Greens Mobile Market Job

Salt Lake City is hiring a Market Manager for the Glendale/Poplar Grove Urban Greens Mobile Market. 

The Urban Greens Mobile Market operates in the Glendale and Poplar Grove neighborhoods from July through October. The goal of the market is to increase access to fresh, local produce. The three locations offer a variety of fruit and vegetables from local farms and accept cash, credit, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks.

The job posting can also be viewed here:  https://www.thegreenurbanlunchbox.com/jobs

BRIDGET STUCHLY

Sustainability Program Manager

DEPARTMENT of SUSTAINABILITY

SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION

Latinos for a Secure Retirement

You are invited to a conversation on financial wellness and career readiness!

Over the next 40 years, Latinos will continue to grow and will account for nearly 30 percent of the US population and 30 percent of the US labor workforce. This large community will influence policy, culture, and workforce benefits & standards. Latinos for a Secure retirement will host a panel discussion and a presentation with resources on: balancing budgets, navigating savings and taxes, capitalizing on employee based benefits, navigating finances while DACAmented/undocumented and homeownership as a driver to building wealth. Join us at our event and become a pioneer in reaching financial wellness for yourself, your family and the next Latinx generation.  Date: Friday, June 8, 2018  | Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Neighbor Works, Salt Lake 625 W. Girard Ave. Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 This event is FREE and open to the public! REGISTER NOW