Utah Gov. Huntsman Signs Four Health Care Bills

Utah Gov. John Huntsman (R) on Wednesday signed into law four bills intended to serve as the state's basis for overhauling its health care system, the Salt Lake City Deseret News reports (Thalman, Salt Lake City Deseret News, 3/12). Summaries of the four bills appear below.
HB 165: The legislation changes the way hospitals and health care providers send information and billing to patients and creates a health care delivery and payment pilot project. The measure also moves the state toward standardized swipe card technology for insurance cards that will allow patients and providers to access information about deductibles, copayments and insurance status.

HB 188: The bill creates a new health plan, called NetCare, that insurers will be able to offer at one-half to one-third the cost of the average large-group health insurance premium. The plan will be exempted from certain state coverage mandates and will include wellness incentives, higher deductibles and caps on preventive care. The measure also allows small employers to give workers the choice of enrolling in an employer-sponsored health plan or using an employer contribution to purchase coverage on their own. Insurance companies would be required to cover workers regardless of pre-existing health conditions, and the Utah Health Re-Insurance Pool would provide assistance to insurers who experience a spike in costly claims. In addition, the legislation allows employers to offer NetCare rather than COBRA as an option for state residents transitioning from group coverage to individual health plans.

HB 331: The legislation requires all general contractors who contract with certain state departments and public transit districts for construction projects worth $1.5 million or more, as well as subcontractors for projects worth $750,000 or more, to give employees a basic level of insurance.

SB 79: The bill increases the level of evidence plaintiffs must show for emergency department-related medical malpractice claims. In addition, the bill strengthens Utah's licensing laws to increase oversight of out-of-state medical expert witnesses (Rosetta, Salt Lake Tribune, 3/12).
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