House eliminates UPOP sunset, extends psychotropic oversight to more children in state custody

Representative Steve Eliason presented first substitute House Bill 38 to continue and expand the Utah Psychotropic Oversight Program (UPOP), saying the program reduced psychotropic prescribing for foster children by about 20 percent and should be continued and broadened.

Eliason said the substitute removes a sunset date for the oversight program and brings roughly 400 additional children in institutional custody into the program so their behavioral-health coverage will be consistent with other children on Medicaid. "These children, all foster children and children in JJYS custody, won't have a carved out Medicaid benefit for behavioral health," Eliason said, arguing parity will ensure better care and reduce downstream involvement with the criminal justice system.

Supporters called the bill an important investment in vulnerable children, and the sponsor described concerns about access to child psychiatrists and outdated Medicaid behavioral-health rates that had reduced provider participation. Representative Daley Provo rose to strongly support the bill, calling the change a needed correction for a vulnerable population.

The House passed the first substitute House Bill 38 by a recorded vote of 68-0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration. Funding and any detailed implementation steps were discussed on the floor in the context of pending fiscal submissions from DHHS but the House did not adopt an on-the-floor appropriation during the session.

Next steps: bill goes to the Senate; a DHHS fiscal submission was referenced but not finalized on the floor.