Utah gets $10M Health and Human Services grant

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Tuesday a $10 million grant for Utah to improve care for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

It was part of $100 million in grants to 10 states, made available through the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009.

Utah, in partnership with Idaho, will be awarded $2.9 million in the first year of a five-year grant totalling $10.3 million.

Utah and Idaho will test the effectiveness of having a "medical home" coordinator to improve information sharing among children with chronic and complex conditions, and to coordinate referrals to specialists.

"These grants will test the most current theories of how to improve the quality of care delivered to children," said Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This story was reported from Salt Lake City.

— Lee Davidson