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House cuts Primary Care Network enrollment fee for low‑income enrollees; bill passes despite fiscal note
Summary
House Bill 86 reduces annual Primary Care Network enrollment from $50 to $15 for low‑income enrollees; sponsor acknowledged a $110,000 fiscal note to the Department of Health but argued the reduction would materially help very low‑income Utahns. The bill passed 46-27 and will be sent to the Senate.
The House passed House Bill 86, which reduces the Primary Care Network annual enrollment fee from $50 to $15 for a targeted low‑income population. Representative Holdaway, sponsor on the floor, described the measure as intended to ease cost barriers for participants whose monthly incomes can be as low as about $374.
Holdaway acknowledged the bill carries a fiscal note of approximately $110,000 for the Department of Health. "With the passage of this bill, it would require an additional...$110,000 going to the Department of Health for this program," the sponsor said, but added that the amount is small relative to the overall state budget and could be prioritized at the end of the session if funds are available.
Supporters described the reduction as meaningful for enrollees who depend on the Primary Care Network for access to health services; the House approved the bill 46-27 and it will be forwarded to the Senate.
