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Show program established to provide consumers with a choice of several private managed care plans. HB 104, Consumer Health Care Study, sponsored by Representative Trisha Beck. This bill amends the Duties of the Health Policy Commission 63C-3-104. The intent is to bring all stake holders in health care together for study and recommendation on ways to improve health care consumer information, education, and advocacy. Reliable, understandable, and comparable information will allow consumers to make conscious choices ensuring quality and cost containment in health care. It is hoped that education will help increase access to health care through such information, and that the Health Policy Commission will establish appropriate consumer protection and advocacy integral to the system, ensuring quality and access. The Health Policy Commission is required to study and make recommendations by December 1, 1998. Budget Items. The Health Policy Commission recommended and the legislature allocated up to $5.6 million (when fully funded) for the implementation of the Children's Health Insurance Program. These state funds will draw a 24.2 million dollar match in federal money. The HPC recommended increasing funding from $350,000 (1998) to $1,000,000 (1999) to provide an entire year of services for all Primary Care Grant projects and extend services to about 3,500 to 4,000 low income, uninsured persons. The Governor recommended $500,000 for this purpose. The legislature allocated this amount through a one-time funding appropriation. The Commission recommended $200,000 and the legislature allocated $30,000 in additional funding to assist with start up costs of the eastern Utah Area Health Education Center. The Commission recommended an additional appropriation of $60,000 to provide vital equipment, maintenance, and other operational costs for eight rural sights. The Governor's budget allocated an additional $30,000 for this purpose. The legislature continued the $100,000 in one time money, however, no additional appropriation was approved. 1997 Legislative Session The four legislative items recommended to the Legislature by the Health Policy Commission passed, and many of the budget items were successfully funded. HB 216, Rural Health Care Provider Amendments, sponsored by Representative Brent Haymond. This bill requires health maintenance organizations to reimburse providers for medical care received by their enrollees at an independent hospital, federally qualified center, or with a credentialed staff member of one of these facilities at a location with a population density of less than 100 persons per square mile and within 30 miles of the enrollee. HB 141, Medical Education Program, sponsored by Representative Haymond. This bill establishes a Medical Education Council made up of seven to eight members from institutions that sponsor graduate medical education and from the general public. The powers and duties of the council are related to obtaining funds for graduate medical education from the Health Care Finance Administration, state appropriation, private donations and directing those funds in the reimbursement of institutions who sponsor health care professionals in training. The Medical Education Council replaces direct hospital reimbursement for medical education and allows the Council to determine where the money is spent based on their assessments of the health care needs of the state. The Council will determine the number and types of medical residences and other graduate medical positions for which program monies can be spent. SB 60, Open Enrollment Amendments, sponsored by Senator Mantes. This bill gives Utahns the opportunity to purchase a health insurance plan whether or not an employer-sponsored plan is offered, because individual carriers are required to accept additional enrollees up to an agreed amount. Small employers and their employees are guaranteed access to small group insurance policies through federal law (Kassebaum/ Kennedy, HR 3103). Small group premiums will be about 30 percent, above or below, of an "average" person's rate with similar characteristics such as age, geography, and occupation. In addition, employees who do not have access to health insurance through an employer plan will have access to an individual policy, in either Utah's Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool (HIP) or the individual market for themselves, and their premiums cannot be more than HIP premiums. HIP premiums are set at the age-adjusted rates being charged on January 1, 1997, and are tied to small group rate trends. SB 107, Medical Savings Account Amendments, sponsored by Senator George Mantes. This bill reconciles Utah's existing law with a new federal law and addresses the problem 149 |