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House approves bill to restore insurance‑industry evaluation duties, funds actuarial support
Summary
House Bill 230 passed 69‑0 to restore language directing the insurance commissioner to prepare an annual evaluation of the health insurance market and to fund an actuary position in the Office of Consumer Health Assistance, sponsor said.
House Bill 230, restoring language directing the insurance commissioner to evaluate the health insurance industry annually and authorizing an appropriation for an actuarial position, passed the Utah House on Feb. 18 by voice vote with recorded passage 69‑0.
Representative Lockhart, sponsor of the legislation, said language removed in 1994 is being reinserted to require the commissioner to report on regulation effectiveness, competition, products, rates, market shares and complaint trends. The bill includes a requested appropriation of $83,100 to hire an actuary for the Office of Consumer Health Assistance so the office can produce the annual report and make independent data available to policymakers, Lockhart said.
Lockhart argued that independent actuarial analysis will help reconcile differing data presented by insurers and advocacy groups and will give the legislature better information for lawmaking. The House adopted the committee report and recorded final passage; the bill will be sent to the Senate for signature of the president.
