Utah's Home and Community-Based Waiver Program for
Technology Dependent Children
("Travis C. Waiver")

Under "waivers" of specific (statutory) comparability and eligibility requirements, this program provides unique home and community-based services to a limited number of eligible individuals who would otherwise require placement in a certified nursing facility to receive Medicaid coverage for their care and services.

Target Group

To be eligible for the Travis C. Home and Community-Based Waiver, an applicant must:

• be under 21 years of age at the time of admission;
• qualify for Medicaid based on his/her income and assets (parent’s income and assets are not counted in determining the applicant’s eligibility);
• meet admission criteria for nursing facility (NF) care;
• have at least one caregiver trained and available to provide care;
• require skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation services at least five days per week and be dependent on one or more of the following:
  - a mechanical ventilator;
  - tracheostomy based respiratory support;
  - continuous or intermittent positive airway pressure support (C-PAP or Bi-PAP); or
  - intravenous administration of nutritional therapy or medication through a central line;
• and choose to receive home and community-based (instead of nursing facility) services.

Only a limited number of children may be served at any point in time by this program. A child may qualify, but be placed on a waiting list until an opening is available.

Covered Services

In addition to receiving “traditional” Medicaid benefits, recipients also receive the following “waiver” supports and services as needed in order to prevent institutionalization.

• Respite Care
  Provided on behalf of the technology dependent recipient for the purpose of relieving the primary caregiver(s) from the stress of providing continuous care.
  
• Family Support Services
  Includes counseling and expressive/child life services provided to the recipient and/or family members to help them cope with the stress that goes with the daily care of their technology dependent child.
• Home Health Certified Nursing Assistant
  Provided under the waiver when Home Health Aide services are required on the same day as a State plan home health service (and may be provided at the same time).
• Extended Private Duty Nursing
  Authorized for recipients 21 years of age and older who are denied Medicaid State plan private duty nursing solely based on age [no longer eligible for the Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program].
• In-Home Feeding Therapy
  Assessment and treatment services provided by a speech or occupational therapist to promote oral intake and self-feeding.
• Financial Management Services
  Authorized in conjunction with respite services when using the family-directed services model to facilitate employment of Registered Nurses by the individual or family.
• Family Directed Support
  Designed to provide education and instruction for waiver families to ensure they are prepared to manage their own respite services and providers.
  

Information

• Application, Eligibility and Service
  Contact the Division of Community and Family Health Services Waiver Case Managers
  Phone: (801) 584-8505, (801) 584-8506 or 1-800-829-8200
  Standard Business Hours (Beginning Monday, August 4th):
  Monday through Thursday, 7 AM - 6 PM
  Fax: (801) 584-8488
  Email: carriecarter@utah.gov or dschrenk@utah.gov
  
• Program Policy and Reimbursement
  Contact Jeff Dean, Health Program Manager, Division of Health Care Financing
  Phone: (801) 538-6638
  Fax: (801)538-6099
  E-mail: jeffdean@utah.gov

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