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House considers technical fixes for HIP pool; supporters warn of looming insolvency
Summary
Lawmakers approved a committee recommendation on Senate Bill 9 to align the state's Health Insurance Pool with federal HIPAA rules and adjust operations; sponsors warned the HIP pool faces financial stress and urged continued monitoring though the bill does not solve solvency challenges.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House heard floor discussion on Senate Bill 9 on Feb. 10, a measure making technical and administrative amendments to the state—s Health Insurance Pool (HIP) to comply with federal HIPAA rules and adjust program operations.
Representative Lockhart, presenting the bill, said the measure updates definitions, authorizes HIP to offer plans with higher deductibles to lower premiums for certain enrollees, and reduces the quorum requirement for the board from seven members to six to reflect practice. "This bill doesn't address [the HIP pool's] financial issues specifically," Lockhart said, adding that the pool "is in a financial crisis" and could be insolvent "in less than two years" if enrollment and benefit trends continue.
Supporters including Representative Dunnegan and Representative Keiser, speaking from industry and constituent perspectives, said the HIP pool functions as an insurer of last resort and that the changes mirror private-sector practice; members urged vigilance about funding and oversight. The House accepted the committee report and advanced the bill for further reading.
Next steps: Senate Bill 9 was placed on the third-reading calendar; members asked staff and sponsors to continue monitoring HIP's fiscal condition and report back if additional corrective steps are needed.
