MINUTES OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • 1:15 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Sen. Keith Grover, Chair
Rep. Katy Hall, Chair
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton
Rep. Stewart E. Barlow
Rep. Kristen Chevrier
Rep. Steve Eliason
Rep. Jake Fitisemanu
Rep. Stephanie Gricius
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Rep. Logan J. Monson
Rep. Grant Pace
Rep. Raymond P. Ward

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
Rep. Bridger Bolinder
Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst
Lisa Sorensen, Policy Analyst
Kami Orton, Associate General Counsel
Amy Shewan, Associate General Counsel
Christopher Williams, Associate General Counsel
Gabi Prior, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Grover called the meeting to order.
1.Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services
2 - Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Presentation (Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services)
Nate Checketts, Inspector General of Medicaid Services, Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services, presented an overview of the Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services.
Rep. Acton asked clarifying questions.
2.Committee Business
MOTION:Rep. Gricius moved to approve the minutes of the May 20, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. S. Barlow
Rep. K. Chevrier
Rep. S. Eliason
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. S. Gricius
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. J. Dailey-Provost
Sen. K. Stratton
Rep. R. Ward
Chair Hall assumed the chair.
3.Medicaid Skilled Nursing Facility Upper Payment Limit Program
3 - Medicaid Upper Payment Limit Program - Skilled Nursing Presentation (OLRGC)
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, presented an overview of the Medicaid Skilled Nursing Facility Upper Payment Limit Program.
Committee members asked clarifying questions.
3 - Statewide Analysis of Medicaid Payments/Reported Costs 2024 Handout (Ensign Services)
Colin Delahunty, Executive Director, The Terrace Transitional, and Jeff Fletcher, Healthcare Administrator, Ensign Services, spoke on the Upper Payment Limit program in Utah.
Chair Hall asked a clarifying question.
Julie Ewing, State Medicaid Director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), gave an overview of DHHS's recommendations related to the Medicaid Skilled Nursing Facility Upper Payment Limit Program.
Committee members asked clarifying questions.
Blain Bernard, Partner, Holland and Hart, Scott Langford, CEO, Beaver Valley Hospital, and Tyler Moss, CFO, Beaver Valley Hospital, spoke on the Upper Payment Limit program in Utah and gave an overview of Beaver Valley Hospital's nursing facilities.
Committee members asked clarifying questions.
Chair Hall spoke to comments and questions from the committee.
3 - Medicaid Upper Payment Limit Supplement for Skilled Nursing Audit Report (Office of the Utah State Auditor)
2 - Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Presentation (Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services)
Tina Cannon, State Auditor, and Seth Oveson, Deputy State Auditor, Office of the Utah State Auditor, presented on the Medicaid Upper Payment Limit Supplement for Skilled Nursing Facilities Audit Report.
Committee members asked clarifying questions.
Chair Grover resumed the chair.
4.Long Term Services and Supports Study
Angie Pinna, Director, Division of Services for People with Disabilities, presented an overview of the Long-Term Services and Supports Service Array and Cost study.
5.Medicaid and H.R. 1 Implementation
Julie Ewing briefed the committee on the status of implementing program changes related to Medicaid and H.R. 1.
Committee members asked clarifying questions.
6.Child Mental Health Wait Times Study
6 - Pediatric Mental Health Access Presentation (University of Utah)
Aaron Fischer, Psychologist, University of Utah, presented on preliminary findings on pediatric mental health access in Utah.
Rep. Eliason spoke to insurance coverage as it relates to pediatric mental health care access and asked a clarifying question.
Rep. Barlow thanked Aaron Fischer for his work on the study and asked a clarifying question.
7.Other Items/Adjourn
Chair Grover reminded the committee of the new rule relating to committee bill files.
Rep. Hall informed the committee about two committee bill files the chairs intend to open.
MOTION:Rep. Eliason moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-11.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 11
Rep. S. Barlow
Rep. K. Chevrier
Rep. S. Eliason
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. G. Pace
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Sen. J. Adams
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. J. Dailey-Provost
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. S. Gricius
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Rep. R. Ward
Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.