The purpose of Medicaid is to increase access to healthcare for the most vulnerable. However, Senate Bill 96 enacted enrollment caps, per capita caps, and work reporting requirements that restrict many Utahns access to Medicaid.
With an enrollment cap on the Medicaid program, an individual who loses their job, has a decrease in pay, or can't work due to injury after the State has decided to close enrollment will be denied Medicaid.
Instating a per-capita cap will limit the amount of federal dollars that would otherwise be available for Medicaid expansion. An economic downturn, disease outbreak, natural disaster, or any other kind of emergency could mean that the state has to cut and/or deny eligible Utahns Medicaid coverage.