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House OKs bill requiring annual insurance market report, 69-0
Summary
The House passed HB44 as amended to require the insurance commissioner to produce an annual evaluation of Utah's health insurance market and post it publicly; the bill passed the House 69-0 and will be sent to the Senate.
The Utah House passed House Bill 44 on Jan. 18, approving a requirement that the state insurance commissioner prepare an annual evaluation of the health insurance market.
"As per discussion yesterday, this bill requires the insurance commissioner to do an annual evaluation of the health insurance market," Representative Rebecca Lockhart said while explaining the amendments allowing the commissioner to work with the Office of Consumer Health Assistance and other stakeholders.
Representative Jay Farren, who said he is licensed to sell life and health insurance, declared a conflict and said he supported the bill. "I don't sell health insurance...I can't imagine any better use of our insurance department than to issue an annual report and clarify the state of the market and the state of the products that are being sold," he said.
The House adopted an amendment under Representative Lockhart's name to change terminology and to allow the insurance commissioner to receive input from insurers, employers and providers when preparing the report. Voting on the measure closed with 69 yes votes and 0 no votes; the bill passes the House and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
The bill requires the report to be delivered annually to the Health and Human Services interim committee and to be made publicly available on the insurance commissioner's website. No effective date or Senate action was recorded on the House floor during the session.
The House record shows the motion to amend and the final passage on the floor; the measure will next be considered by the Senate.
