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Show 1996 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HEALTH-RELATED BILLS Information provided by the Utah Health Policy Commission The Utah Health Policy Commission enjoyed a fair amount of success during the 1996 Legislative session. Of the six legislative items the Commission recommended to the Legislature, five passed, four of which Governor Leavitt signed into law. HB 129, The Medicaid Transition Fund, sponsored by Representative Haymond passed. The fund will protect moneys saved through Medicaid efficiencies, so that access to insurance coverage will be expanded under the Medicaid program. HB 273, Voluntary Health Insurance Purchasing Alliances, sponsored by Representative Harward passed, which will enable small employers to group together to increase their respective bargaining power when purchasing health insurance, and employees are given a better choice of health insurance plans. SB 171, Health Care Quality, sponsored by Senator Holmgren. The Utah Health Policy Commission's successful effort of studying ways to collect and disseminate data for use by health insurance purchasers will be realized with the passing of this law. The Health Data Committee can publish report cards, and the Utah Department of Health can publish comparative analyses, including data which will be shared for peer review. The new law also streamlines health data practices by broadening the public health purposes for which the data may be used. SB 107, sponsored by Senator Stewart, amends the 1995 Medical Savings Account statute. With its passage, account administrators must comply with state tax regulations governing medical savings accounts and other similar accounts. HB 146, Rural Health Care Provider Amendments, sponsored by Representative Haymond passed, but not as the Health Policy Commission intended. The intent of the original language was to ensure rural populations the use of local providers or facilities under certain conditions when insurance coverage is through a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). The bill was amended in the Senate which changed the intent of the Commission. Essentially, the law now reads that any providers or facilities in the 22 rural counties can choose to join the panel of an HMO if they are willing and able to meet the terms and conditions. In other words, it puts into effect an any willing provider law for rural areas. The implementation date has been delayed to July 1997 while further study is made of the issue. HB 253, Health Care Work Force Survey, sponsored by Representative Mary Carlson, did not pass. Although it neatly made it through the process. It died in the Senate on the last night of the Legislature with an unfunded fiscal note of $217,800. This legislation would have allowed for a comprehensive inventory of selected primary health care providers and their practice characteristics for the purpose of adequately guiding decisions about health care provider education. The success of the other funding initiatives requested by the Health Policy Commission was limited. The legislature also did not appropriate any of the $450,000 (Governor Leavitt designated $200,000 in his 1996 budget) requested for Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). These moneys would have supported the on-going costs of the Central AHEC. A sum of $350,000 one-time funding was allocated for community, migrant, homeless, and Indian health centers to expand existing primary services. Interestingly, these moneys will come from the Mineral Lease Fund. This funding will allow approximately 1,700 additional uninsured Utahns to be able to receive primary health services through eligible health centers. The Health Policy Commission is hopeful future funding can be secured to support these on-going activities. Special Topics 128 |