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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah leaders announced Wednesday morning the approval of a $100 million Medicaid expansion for Utah that will help up to 6,000 Utahns.

Gov. Gary Herbert, along with Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, spoke about their relief and excitement that Utah was finally granted this Medicaid waiver, a process that has been ongoing since 2016.

The program will take place immediately, he added, and enrollment begins Wednesday.

Utah is one of only a few states that have been granted a Medicaid waiver this year, Dunnigan said. The waiver will expand eligibility income levels and will provide at least a full year of Medicaid coverage for childless adults in need of mental health and substance abuse help.

Utah was also granted permission to expand mental health facilities to add more than 16 beds for patients. Both Dunnigan and Herbert said this will help immensely with Operation Rio Grande, providing millions of dollars per year for treatment beds.

"This Medicaid expansion is a critical element of Operation Rio Grande, as many of the newly eligible recipients will be members of the homeless population," a press release from the governor's office stated. "The waiver will encourage treatment centers to begin offering services for Medicaid members."

Waivers bring in $100 million ($30 million from state, $70 million from fed) ~ $10 million a year will be going to Op Rio Grande beds #utpol — Katie McKellar (@KatieMcKellar1) November 1, 2017

Part of the waiver already took effect on July 1 and more than 4,000 additional families have been approved for Medicaid coverage, Dunnigan said.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

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