The Utah Department of Health is seeking input on an experiment that, if approved by the federal government, will require a small group of Medicaid recipients to do community service in exchange for their health coverage.

The test-pilot is the idea of Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, who has said the intent is not to punish people on the low-income health program, but to empower them by allowing them to "give something back."

Advocates for the poor, however, question whether it's worth the extra work that will be required of health officials to log participants' charity hours.

"You can do this for philosophical reasons but you have to ask what you'll achieve for all the effort," said Jason Cooke, the new Medicaid research and policy director at health reform advocacy group, Utah Health Policy Project. Cooke, who comes to Utah from Texas where he directed that state's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) programs, said he doesn't know of any other states that have tried this.

Under normal circumstances the experiment likely wouldn't pass muster with federal officials, he said, noting there are firm limits on co-payments and other "potential barriers to timely and appropriate care" for Medicaid patients.

But this program will likely target about 100 adults on a bare-bones form of Medicaid called the Primary Care Network (PCN), which operates free from certain federal rules, Cooke said.

Children, seniors and disabled Utahns would be exempt from the program.

Details are scarce, such as what type of charity work will suffice, how many hours will be required and what will happen to the benefits of recipients who refuse. It's these elements that health officials want people to weigh in on, said Medicaid spokeswoman Kolbi Young.

Two hearings are scheduled this week and next:

• An informal Public Work Group on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cannon Health Building (288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Room 128).

• Formal public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cannon Health Building (288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Room 125).

Written comments will also be accepted through Dec. 2. Starting on Nov. 15, a blueprint for the program will available at http://health.utah.gov/medicaid.

kstewart@sltrib.com —

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Two hearings are scheduled this week and next:

• An informal Public Work Group on Thursday, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cannon Health Building (288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Room 128).

• Formal public hearing on Nov. 17 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cannon Health Building (288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Room 125).

Written comments will also be accepted through Dec. 2. Starting on Nov. 15, a blueprint for the program will available at http://health.utah.gov/medicaid.