Health System Reform Bill Passes House Unanimously

Feb 08, 2008 by Eric Ray

The process of overhauling Utah's health care system reached the floor of the House of Representatives today. Throughout the discussion, lawmakers stressed the importance of making sure the process of reform is deliberate and done correctly. Those words were echoed by Governor Jon Huntsman.

"If we do it right, putting first and foremost the needs of the people of this state. We will get something very important done," said Huntsman. "We may well say at the end of the journey that it was the most important thing we've done in our careers in politics as elected officials."

House Majority Leader David Clark, sponsor of the health system reform bill, says lawmakers followed two litmus tests in building the measure. Will the outcome provide individual accountability, and will it encourage market-based solutions. He adds it will take three years to complete the plan to reform the health system and it could take much longer to complete.

"It took us a long time to get to this point. This is not a sprint. It's going to take us awhile. It may take us as long as ten years to come up with those particular solutions."

The measure includes six goals, which include more transparency by providers; promoting healthy behaviors; optimizing existing public assistance programs; and providing tax incentives for people not receiving benefits through their employer. Substitute House Bill 133 unanimously passed the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.

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