2012 UHA State Legislative Agenda

Overview of pertinent healthcare issues during the 2012 legislative session.

UHA Supports Appropriate Funding for the Medicaid Waiver and for Utah’s Hospitals

UHA continues to be a strong supporter of Medicaid reform through a Medicaid waiver. This support hinges on appropriate ongoing funding for the waiver as required by the waiver legislation passed last session. UHA also supports appropriate inpatient and outpatient Medicaid funding for hospitals. Done properly the waiver will provide long needed funding stability in the Medicaid program for both the state and Medicaid providers.

UHA Opposes Any Willing Provider Legislation 

At a time when the state is trying to appropriately reduce healthcare costs, any willing provider or other mandate legislation will actually increase healthcare costs. Utah hospitals and health systems strongly oppose any willing provider legislation as it will undo years of effort to control health care costs. UHA also opposes unnecessary healthcare mandates as many studies show that such mandates generally increase costs inappropriately. UHA is part of a broad coalition of healthcare providers, health insurers and businesses who all oppose any willing provider legislation.

UHA Supports Legislation Protecting And Improving Medicaid Audit Rights

During the last session, legislation was passed establishing a state Medicaid Office of Inspector General.  Unfortunately, this legislation did not include appropriate due process safeguards for Medicaid providers.  UHA supports legislation to clarify Medicaid provider rights during audits and other disputes with the newly created Medicaid OIG.  It is in the interest of both the state and Medicaid providers to have a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities of all concerned in a Medicaid billing audit.

UHA Supports Patient Safety Transparency Legislation

Utah hospitals are rated as some of the best in the nation when it comes to patient safety. Utah hospitals take patient safety seriously by annually spending millions of dollars collectively to stop and control infections. UHA has worked over the last year to craft legislation to provide the public more understanding and transparency of healthcare acquired infections. UHA supports H.B. 55 that will provide timelier reporting to Utah citizens on this issue.