House creates task force to study privately owned health‑care organizations, approves funding cuts in amendment

The Utah House on March 1 passed Fifth Substitute Senate Bill 61, establishing a task force to study privately owned health care organizations and a range of issues including any‑willing‑provider laws, medical non‑compete clauses and Medicaid program effects. The measure passed the House by a recorded vote of 63 to 9 and is to be referred to the Senate.

Sponsor rationale and scope

Representative Lockhart, speaking for the sponsor, said the task force was designed to examine policy questions that have occupied the Capitol for weeks and to provide a thorough study before any structural policy change. "We need to study this issue," Lockhart said, adding the task force would look into taxing options, structural changes, and a range of health system concerns.

Amendments and membership questions

Representative Alexander offered Amendment 3, which reduced two fiscal items from $400,000 to $300,000 and added several study points to the task force's charge. Members asked whether the study would examine multiple healthcare organizations beyond Intermountain Healthcare (IHC) and whether financial records and paneling would be reviewed. Alexander said the amendment "lays out some points of interest that need to be studied," and the House accepted it.

Disclosure of potential conflicts

Sponsor Representative Lockhart disclosed a board affiliation with Mountain Star Hospital and flagged it as a possible conflict so members were aware of his relationship.

Next steps

After debate and a waived summation, the House voted. The task force is scheduled to run through the interim and sunset in November 2006, per the sponsor's floor comments; the bill will be referred to the Senate.