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The Utah services guideUtah’s system, in plain language.
DSPD, CSW, PCSP, SAS, EVV… Utah’s disability services can be hard to navigate. This guide explains what matters for individuals and families who want support from people they trust.
General Utah information. This guide explains Utah programs generally, with links to official sources. A program or service appearing here does not mean giv.care is enrolled, staffed or accepting referrals for it. For giv.care’s current services, see the Support Coordinators page or contact us.
How Utah’s system works.
DSPD
The Division of Services for People with Disabilities is part of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DSPD serves people with intellectual disabilities or related conditions, acquired brain injuries and physical disabilities. It runs intake and the waiting list, operates the disability waivers, and contracts with providers.
Utah Medicaid
Utah Medicaid funds home and community-based waiver services. Within DHHS, the Division of Integrated Healthcare acts as the state Medicaid agency. Medicaid eligibility is determined by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS); apply through myCase or call 1-866-435-7414.
Support Coordinators
A Support Coordinator helps the person develop a Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP), then coordinates and monitors services and how the annual budget is used. People can choose their support coordination provider and change Support Coordinators at any time.
Providers
Provider agencies deliver the services authorized in the plan. With provider-based services, the agency is the employer. With Self-Administered Services (SAS), the person or a family member is the employer, and a fiscal agent handles payroll. SAS is typically limited to certain services, such as respite and personal care.
Eligibility and applying.
DSPD decides who is eligible for its services. People of all ages can be eligible.
Find where to begin- Apply to DSPD. Online through myStEPS, or call 1-844-275-3773 and choose “Apply for services.”
- Intake. DSPD has 90 days to complete intake and decide eligibility. If it doesn’t have enough information by then, the application can become inactive.
- Medicaid. Waiver services also require Utah Medicaid eligibility, handled by DWS.
- The waiting list. Being eligible doesn’t mean services start right away. People are prioritized using a Needs Assessment Questionnaire (NAQ) that weighs how urgent the need is, caregiver support and time waiting. Tell your intake worker if needs change.
Sources: DSPD — eligibility; DSPD — waiting list; DSPD Guide to Eligibility & Services, pp. 4–8.
Service plans and authorizations.
The plan is the heart of it. No provider can deliver — or be paid for — a waiver service that isn’t authorized in the plan.
Assessment
DSPD uses an assessment of the person’s needs and strengths, completed at least once a year, to inform planning.
The PCSP
The Person-Centered Support Plan describes the person’s goals and the services that support them. It’s reviewed at least once a year and can change when needs change.
Authorization
Annual service authorizations come from the plan. Increases require DSPD approval, usually requested through the Support Coordinator.
Waivers and programs.
Community Supports Waiver (CSW)
A Medicaid waiver, operated by DSPD, for people with intellectual disabilities or related conditions who meet an institutional (ICF/ID) level of care. It has no age limit.
For children on the CSW, parents’ income and assets are not counted toward Medicaid eligibility.
Sources: Utah Medicaid — Community Supports Waiver; waiver programs overview.
Limited Supports Waiver (LSW)
A DSPD waiver for people with lower support needs who live in their own or their family’s home. It has a yearly cost limit per person, and it includes remote support monitoring as a service option.
Source: DSPD Medicaid waivers. The annual limit changes over time; check DSPD for the current amount.
Other DSPD waivers
- Acquired Brain Injury Waiver — adults 18+ with a qualifying brain injury. Details
- Physical Disabilities Waiver — adults 18+ with a qualifying physical disability; services are self-administered. Details
- Community Transitions Waiver — for people moving from an intermediate care facility into the community. Details
Children with complex medical needs may be served by the Medically Complex Children’s Waiver, which is run by DHHS rather than DSPD. Details
New Choices Waiver
A Medicaid waiver run by DHHS Long Term Services & Supports — not DSPD — for people who meet nursing-facility level of care and are living long-term in a nursing facility, assisted living or other licensed setting, to help them move back to the community.
Source: Utah Medicaid — New Choices Waiver.
Family and friend DSPs, and legally responsible individuals.
Under the Community Supports Waiver, who may be paid depends on the relationship.
Other relatives
Siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives may provide any service they qualify for.
Friends and neighbors
People outside the family who meet provider qualifications.
Spouses, parents and guardians
Supported Living only; “extraordinary care” beyond what a spouse or parent would typically provide; the person’s choice; up to 40 hours a week; may not also direct the services.
People already paid by another source to provide care, such as foster parents, are generally excluded. In Self-Administered Services, the employer can’t also be the paid employee.
Sources: CSW application, Appendix C-2-d/e; Utah Admin. Code R539-5-4. Other waivers have different rules.
Common services, explained.
- Supported Living
- Hourly support in the person’s home and community to help them live as independently as possible. Transportation during Supported Living is included in the rate.
- Personal Assistance
- Hands-on help with daily activities such as personal care and household tasks.
- Respite
- Short-term support that gives a person’s usual unpaid caregiver a break. Available hourly and in other forms.
- Companion Services
- Non-medical support and supervision focused on safety and participation in the community.
- Employment supports
- Help finding, learning and keeping a job, individually or in small groups.
- Day Supports
- Structured activities and skill-building outside the home during the day.
- Non-medical transportation
- A separate service, only when transportation isn’t already part of another service.
- Remote supports
- Monitoring and equipment that support independence remotely. Currently part of the Limited Supports Waiver.
- EVV
- Electronic visit verification records who delivered which service, where and when. Utah Medicaid requires it for personal care and home health services, including many in-home DSPD services.
Sources: CSW application, Appendices A and C; Utah Medicaid — EVV; DSPD waivers.
Appeals, complaints and independent resources.
If DSPD plans to change your services
DSPD sends a written notice before reducing or ending services. You have 30 days to request a hearing. If you ask within 10 days, the change generally waits while the appeal is pending. Hearings are handled by the DHHS Office of Administrative Hearings.
Complaints
DSPD Constituent Services: 801-538-4091 · dspd@utah.gov.
Source: DSPD Directives 1.11 and 1.64.
Disability Law Center
Utah’s Protection & Advocacy agency · 800-662-9080
Utah Parent Center
Help for families of children and young adults with disabilities · 1-800-468-1160
Utah Developmental Disabilities Council
Advocacy and systems change · 801-245-7350
211 Utah
Community resources statewide · dial 211