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House refuses to concur with Senate amendments to HB 146 after debate over rural hospitals
Summary
The Utah House voted 37–32 to refuse to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 146, a rural health-care provider amendment. Lawmakers debating the motion said the Senate language preserves access in counties under 30,000 and protects fragile rural hospitals; supporters urged conference committee consideration.
The Utah House on the floor voted to refuse to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 146, adopting a motion that will send the matter back to the Senate for further action. The motion to refuse to concur passed 37–32 after a lengthy debate about access to health care in rural communities.
Representative Johnson argued against the motion, saying the Senate changes are narrowly tailored to protect small hospitals. "Without those amendments in this bill, it absolutely destroys a lot of the rural hospitals," Johnson said, urging colleagues to reject the motion.
Supporters of returning the bill to the Senate said the task force of rural health-care representatives recommended the Senate language and that the amendment aims to preserve competition and access. One speaker summarized the Senate amendment as requiring insurers doing business in counties with fewer than 30,000 people to contract with any provider or facility "if they're willing to accept the same terms and conditions as those agreed to by the HMO," a change proponents said would maintain local access.
Opponents warned the amendment could force HMOs to contract with providers regardless of competence and that the bill without the amendment provides payment remedies without compelling contract terms. Representative James Hammond urged a conference committee, saying the amendment has serious ramifications for Medicare and services to people below the poverty line in rural areas.
After closing debate, the House recorded the tally and the motion passed, and the clerk announced the result and that the House would ask the Senate to proceed from their amendments.
Next steps: the action sends HB 146 back toward the Senate and may prompt a conference committee to reconcile differences between House and Senate language.
