Senate advances bill to create Utah Health Data Committee to collect health-cost data

Senate Bill 235, proposed by Senator Petersen, would create a Utah Health Data Committee to collect standardized health-care cost and utilization information and make it available to citizens and policymakers. Petersen said the bill grew out of work by employers, hospitals and the Utah Health Cost Management Foundation and aims to give Utahns comparable price information when choosing care.

"Health insurance is just getting away from us, and health costs are getting away from us," Petersen said, arguing the committee would provide data citizens need to make cost-aware choices. He described a wide range of stakeholders who helped shape the bill, including hospitals, private employers and local governments, and said hospitals had voluntarily provided data but that statute was needed to make the effort sustainable and comprehensive.

Petersen offered technical amendments (deleting a duplicated line and clarifying institutional review board requirements). Senators pressed the fiscal implications: a fiscal note of about $300,000 was discussed and Petersen said portions would be one-time start-up costs with some ongoing staff needs, and he suggested the fiscal estimate might be higher than necessary. He also said the health department and volunteers could contribute to reduce costs.

Senator Barton announced he would propose amendments on board composition at third reading. On the roll call for second reading, the Senate recorded 25 ayes, no nays and 4 absent, advancing SB235 to the third-reading calendar for further amendment and final consideration.

The next steps are technical amendment filings and committee composition amendments expected at third reading before a final vote.