Increased CVR benefits

December 12, 2023

Greetings to Everyone!

I am excited to announce some great updates to the Crime Victim Reparations Program at UOVC.

Regarding all UOVC Victim Reparations Claims, regardless of when submitted or approved, the following changes apply to any date(s) of service occurring on or after 12/08/2023.

  1. All mental health counseling services will be reimbursed at the rate established by Public Employees Health Plans (PEHP). This provides a substantial increase in the payments made to mental health experts providing services to victims of crime and allows UOVC rates to keep better pace with the market.
  2. Also regarding mental health services, mental health services provided by qualified and eligible student interns are now able to receive payment from UOVC for those services. This brings UOVC inline with industry standards and helps to enhance the pool of mental health experts specializing in the treatment of victims.
  3. Increased limit of funeral and burial expenses from $7,000.00 to $14,000.00. This brings UOVC benefits closer to the market realities of those services.
  4. Increased the limit of relocation expenses from $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 and allows the inclusion of the required rent amounts to initiate a lease or to maintain or assume current rent expenses within the $2,000.00 limit.

What does “date of service” mean? Date of service means the actual date the service takes place, without regard of when the crime or reparation application occurred or when the invoice is submitted to UOVC. Please note, there have been no changes made regarding the requirement of all expenses to be verified to be the result of the crime upon which the CVR claim is based.

If mental health, medical, dental or other service providers have questions, they should reach out to Amy Armstrong at UOVC. For all other related inquiries, please reach out to Dale Oyler, the new UOVC Assistant Director, Reparations Program Manager. I have included Amy and Dale in this email, or you can call 801-238-2360 and ask for them directly.

Thank you All, for All you do! Happy Holidays!

Gary

—
Gary Scheller, Director
Utah Office for Victims of Crime