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H.B. 208 Enrolled

                 

CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO REPEAL OF

                 
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION

                 
2001 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Rebecca D. Lockhart

                  This act modifies provisions related to the Health Policy Commission which was repealed last
                  year. The act deletes references to the Health Policy Commission in the Health Code and the
                  Insurance Code and makes technical changes.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      26-1-30, as last amended by Chapter 229, Laws of Utah 2000
                      26-1-30.5, as enacted by Chapter 321, Laws of Utah 1995
                      26-18-401, as last amended by Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 1998
                      26-33a-106.5, as enacted by Chapter 201, Laws of Utah 1996
                      26-40-103, as last amended by Chapter 351, Laws of Utah 2000
                      26-40-104, as enacted by Chapter 360, Laws of Utah 1998
                      26-40-109, as enacted by Chapter 360, Laws of Utah 1998
                      26-40-110, as enacted by Chapter 360, Laws of Utah 1998
                      31A-30-110, as last amended by Chapters 10 and 265, Laws of Utah 1997
                      31A-32a-106, as enacted by Chapter 131, Laws of Utah 1999
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 26-1-30 is amended to read:
                       26-1-30. Powers and duties of department.
                      (1) The department shall:
                      (a) enter into cooperative agreements with the Department of Environmental Quality to
                  delineate specific responsibilities to assure that assessment and management of risk to human
                  health from the environment are properly administered; and
                      (b) consult with the Department of Environmental Quality and enter into cooperative
                  agreements, as needed, to ensure efficient use of resources and effective response to potential


                  health and safety threats from the environment, and to prevent gaps in protection from potential risks
                  from the environment to specific individuals or population groups.
                      (2) In addition to all other powers and duties of the department, it shall have and exercise
                  the following powers and duties:
                      (a) promote and protect the health and wellness of the people within the state;
                      (b) establish, maintain, and enforce rules necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions
                  and purposes of this title to promote and protect the public health or to prevent disease and illness;
                      (c) investigate and control the causes of epidemic, infectious, communicable, and other
                  diseases affecting the public health;
                      (d) provide for the detection, reporting, prevention, and control of communicable, infectious,
                  acute, chronic, or any other disease or health hazard that the department considers to be dangerous,
                  important, or likely to affect the public health;
                      (e) collect and report information on causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability and the
                  risk factors that contribute to the causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability within the state;
                      (f) collect, prepare, publish, and disseminate information to inform the public concerning
                  the health and wellness of the population, specific hazards, and risks that may affect the health and
                  wellness of the population and specific activities which may promote and protect the health and
                  wellness of the population;
                      (g) establish and operate programs necessary or desirable for the promotion or protection of
                  the public health and the control of disease or which may be necessary to ameliorate the major causes
                  of injury, sickness, death, and disability in the state, except that the programs shall not be established
                  if adequate programs exist in the private sector;
                      (h) establish, maintain, and enforce isolation and quarantine, and for this purpose only,
                  exercise physical control over property and individuals as the department finds necessary for the
                  protection of the public health;
                      (i) close theaters, schools, and other public places and forbid gatherings of people when
                  necessary to protect the public health;
                      (j) abate nuisances when necessary to eliminate sources of filth and infectious and

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                  communicable diseases affecting the public health;
                      (k) make necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections in cooperation with
                  local health departments as to any matters affecting the public health;
                      (l) establish laboratory services necessary to support public health programs and medical
                  services in the state;
                      (m) establish and enforce standards for laboratory services which are provided by any
                  laboratory in the state when the purpose of the services is to protect the public health;
                      (n) cooperate with the Labor Commission to conduct studies of occupational health hazards
                  and occupational diseases arising in and out of employment in industry, and make recommendations
                  for elimination or reduction of the hazards;
                      (o) cooperate with the local health departments, the Department of Corrections, the
                  Administrative Office of the Courts, the Division of Youth Corrections, and the Crime Victims
                  Reparations Board to conduct testing for HIV infection of convicted sexual offenders and any
                  victims of a sexual offense;
                      (p) investigate the cause of maternal and infant mortality;
                      (q) establish, maintain, and enforce a procedure requiring the blood of adult pedestrians and
                  drivers of motor vehicles killed in highway accidents be examined for the presence and concentration
                  of alcohol;
                      (r) provide the commissioner of public safety with monthly statistics reflecting the results
                  of the examinations provided for in Subsection (2)(q) and provide safeguards so that information
                  derived from the examinations is not used for a purpose other than the compilation of statistics
                  authorized in this Subsection (2)(r);
                      (s) establish qualifications for individuals permitted to draw blood pursuant to Section
                  41-6-44.10 , and to issue permits to individuals it finds qualified, which permits may be terminated
                  or revoked by the department;
                      (t) establish a uniform public health program throughout the state which includes continuous
                  service, employment of qualified employees, and a basic program of disease control, vital and health
                  statistics, sanitation, public health nursing, and other preventive health programs necessary or

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                  desirable for the protection of public health;
                      (u) adopt rules and enforce minimum sanitary standards for the operation and maintenance
                  of:
                      (i) orphanages;
                      (ii) boarding homes;
                      (iii) summer camps for children;
                      (iv) lodging houses;
                      (v) hotels;
                      (vi) restaurants and all other places where food is handled for commercial purposes, sold,
                  or served to the public;
                      (vii) tourist and trailer camps;
                      (viii) service stations;
                      (ix) public conveyances and stations;
                      (x) public and private schools;
                      (xi) factories;
                      (xii) private sanatoria;
                      (xiii) barber shops;
                      (xiv) beauty shops;
                      (xv) physicians' offices;
                      (xvi) dentists' offices;
                      (xvii) workshops;
                      (xviii) industrial, labor, or construction camps;
                      (xix) recreational resorts and camps;
                      (xx) swimming pools, public baths, and bathing beaches;
                      (xxi) state, county, or municipal institutions, including hospitals and other buildings, centers,
                  and places used for public gatherings; and
                      (xxii) of any other facilities in public buildings and on public grounds;
                      (v) conduct health planning for the state;

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                      (w) monitor the costs of health care in the state and foster price competition in the health
                  care delivery system;
                      (x) adopt rules for the licensure of health facilities within the state pursuant to Title 26,
                  Chapter 21, Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act;
                      (y) serve as the collecting agent, on behalf of the state, for the nursing facility assessment
                  fee imposed under Title 26, Chapter 35, Nursing Facility Assessment Act, and the provider
                  assessment imposed under Chapter 40, Utah Children's Health Insurance Act, and adopt rules for the
                  enforcement and administration of the assessments consistent with Chapters 35 and 40; and
                      [(z) monitor and report to the Health Policy Commission created in Title 63C, Chapter 3,
                  Health Policy Commission, on the development of managed health care plans in rural areas of the
                  state, including the effect of the managed health care plans on costs, access, and availability of
                  providers located in the rural communities of the state; and]
                      [(aa)] (z) license the provision of child care.
                      Section 2. Section 26-1-30.5 is amended to read:
                       26-1-30.5. Duty to establish pilot program for monitoring quality in health care.
                      (1) The department shall develop a two year demonstration project to promote and monitor
                  quality health care. Implementation and execution of the demonstration project is contingent upon
                  appropriations from the Legislature.
                      (2) The demonstration project shall include at least the following:
                      (a) a collaborative, public-private effort to promote clinical quality and cost effectiveness
                  in health care through community wide continuous quality improvement methods; and
                      (b) a process for evaluating the effectiveness of health care continuous quality improvement
                  efforts in the state.
                      [(3) (a) Before issuing any requests for proposals, as defined in Section 63-56-5 , to
                  implement the demonstration project described in this section, the department shall:]
                      [(i) submit to the Utah Health Policy Commission a draft of the request for proposal to be
                  issued for the demonstration project; and]
                      [(ii) provide an opportunity for the commission to comment on the request for proposal.]

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                      [(b) Sixty days before issuing any requests for proposals as defined in Section 63-56-5 for
                  acquisition of hardware and software and information technology systems for the collection, storage,
                  and encoding of encounter level data, the department shall submit to the Information Technology
                  Commission a detailed description of the pilot program's plan for information technology
                  acquisition and funding.]
                      Section 3. Section 26-18-401 is amended to read:
                       26-18-401. Medicaid waiver.
                      (1) (a) Before July 1, 1995, the division shall submit to the Secretary of the United States
                  Department of Health and Human Services an application for a Medicaid Waiver under 42 U.S.C.
                  Section 1315. The purpose of the waiver is to expand the coverage of the Medicaid program, and
                  to the extent permissible under the waiver, private health insurance plans to low income, otherwise
                  uninsured persons who are in eligibility categories not traditionally served by the Medicaid program.
                      (b) Prior to submitting the application under Subsection (1)(a), the department shall submit
                  to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee a summary of the application and proposal
                  for implementing the waiver.
                      (c) Prior to adopting any rules or policies to implement the waiver, the department shall
                  submit to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee the proposed rules and policies.
                      (2) Implementation and execution of this waiver by the department will be within
                  appropriations from the Legislature.
                      [(3) The Health Policy Commission may make recommendations to the department
                  regarding implementation and execution of the waiver.]
                      [(4)] (3) The department shall establish by rule the policies governing eligibility, income
                  limitations, cost sharing, participating in private insurance plans, benefit plan, and voluntary
                  employee enrollment by employers who volunteer to participate.
                      [(5)] (4) The department shall provide [a periodic report to the Health Policy Committee
                  and] an annual report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee on the progress and
                  results of the waiver implementation.
                      Section 4. Section 26-33a-106.5 is amended to read:

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                       26-33a-106.5. Comparative analyses.
                      (1) The committee may publish compilations or reports that compare and identify health care
                  providers or data suppliers from the data it collects under this chapter or from any other source.
                      [(2) Until June 30, 1998, the committee shall inform the Health Policy Commission created
                  in Title 63C, Chapter 3, before publishing a compilation or report that compares and identifies health
                  care providers or data suppliers.]
                      [(3)] (2) The committee shall contract with a private, independent analyst to evaluate the
                  standard comparative reports of the committee that identify, compare, or rank the performance of
                  data suppliers by name. The evaluation shall include a validation of statistical methodologies,
                  limitations, appropriateness of use, and comparisons using standard health services research practice.
                  The analyst must be experienced in analyzing large databases from multiple data suppliers and in
                  evaluating health care issues of cost, quality, and access. The results of the analyst's evaluation must
                  be released to the public before the standard comparative analysis upon which it is based may be
                  published by the committee.
                      [(4)] (3) The committee shall adopt by rule a timetable for the collection and analysis of data
                  from multiple types of data suppliers.
                      Section 5. Section 26-40-103 is amended to read:
                       26-40-103. Creation and administration of the Utah Children's Health Insurance
                  Program.
                      (1) There is created the Utah Children's Health Insurance Program to be administered by the
                  department in accordance with the provisions of:
                      (a) this chapter; and
                      (b) the State Children's Health Insurance Program, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397aa et seq.
                      (2) The department shall:
                      (a) prepare and submit the state's children's health insurance plan before May 1, 1998, and
                  any amendments to the federal Department of Health and Human Services in accordance with 42
                  U.S.C. Sec. 1397ff; and
                      (b) make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking

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                  Act regarding:
                      (i) eligibility requirements consistent with Subsection 26-18-3 (6);
                      (ii) program benefits;
                      (iii) the level of coverage for each program benefit;
                      (iv) cost-sharing requirements for enrollees, which may not:
                      (A) exceed the guidelines set forth in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397ee; or
                      (B) impose deductible, copayment, or coinsurance requirements on an enrollee for
                  well-child, well-baby, and immunizations; and
                      (v) the administration of the program.
                      (3) Before July 1, 2001, the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget shall study the
                  effectiveness of the department's administration of the program and report any findings to:
                      (a) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee of the Legislature; and
                      [(b) the Health Policy Commission; and]
                      [(c)] (b) the department.
                      Section 6. Section 26-40-104 is amended to read:
                       26-40-104. Utah Children's Health Insurance Program Advisory Council.
                      (1) There is created a Utah Children's Health Insurance Program Advisory Council
                  consisting of at least eight and no more than eleven members appointed by the executive director of
                  the department. The term of each appointment shall be three years. The appointments shall be
                  staggered at one-year intervals to ensure continuity of the advisory council.
                      (2) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly.
                      (3) The membership of the advisory council shall include at least one representative from
                  each of the following groups:
                      (a) child health care providers;
                      (b) parents and guardians of children enrolled in the program;
                      (c) ethnic populations other than American Indians;
                      (d) American Indians;
                      [(e) the Health Policy Commission;]

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                      [(f)] (e) the Utah Association of Health Care Providers;
                      [(g)] (f) health and disability insurance providers; and
                      [(h)] (g) the general public.
                      (4) The advisory council shall advise the department on:
                      (a) benefits design;
                      (b) eligibility criteria;
                      (c) outreach;
                      (d) evaluation; and
                      (e) special strategies for under-served populations.
                      (5) (a) (i) Members who are not government employees may not receive compensation or
                  benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the
                  member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections                   63A-3-106
                  and 63A-3-107 .
                      (ii) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
                      (b) (i) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per diem,
                  or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the
                  performance of their official duties from the council at the rates established by the Division of
                  Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
                      (ii) State government officer and employee members may decline to receive per diem and
                  expenses for their service.
                      Section 7. Section 26-40-109 is amended to read:
                       26-40-109. Evaluation.
                      (1) The department shall develop performance measures and annually evaluate the program's
                  performance.
                      (2) The department shall report annually on its evaluation to the Health and Human Services
                  Interim Committee of the Legislature [and the Health Policy Commission] before November 1.
                      Section 8. Section 26-40-110 is amended to read:
                       26-40-110. Managed care -- Contracting for services.

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                      (1) Services provided to enrollees under the program shall be delivered in a managed care
                  system if services are available within 30 paved road miles of where the enrollee lives or resides.
                  Otherwise, the program may provide services to enrollees through fee for service plans.
                      (2) Before awarding a contract to a managed care system or fee for service plan to provide
                  services under Subsection (1) or determining that no bid or proposal received in response to such a
                  request is acceptable, the executive director shall report that information to and seek
                  recommendations from the Health [Policy Commission] Advisory Council created in Section
                  26-1-7.5 .
                      (3) If after seeking the recommendation of the Health [Policy Commission] Advisory
                  Council under Subsection (2), the executive director determines that no bid or proposal received in
                  response to such a request is acceptable or if no bid or proposal has been received in response to such
                  a request, the department may contract with the Group Insurance Division within the Utah State
                  Retirement Office to provide services under Subsection (1).
                      (4) Title 63, Chapter 56, Utah Procurement Code, shall apply to this section.
                      Section 9. Section 31A-30-110 is amended to read:
                       31A-30-110. Individual enrollment cap.
                      (1) The commissioner shall set the individual enrollment cap at .5% on July 1, 1997.
                      (2) The commissioner shall raise the individual enrollment cap by .5% at the later of the
                  following dates:
                      (a) six months from the last increase in the individual enrollment cap; or
                      (b) the date when CCI/TI is greater than .90, where:
                      (i) "CCI" is the total individual coverage count for all carriers certifying that their
                  uninsurable percentage has reached the individual enrollment cap; and
                      (ii) "TI" is the total individual coverage count for all carriers.
                      (3) The commissioner may establish a minimum number of uninsurable individuals that a
                  carrier entering the market who is subject to this chapter must accept under the individual enrollment
                  provisions of this chapter.
                      (4) Beginning July 1, 1997, an individual carrier may decline to accept individuals applying

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                  for individual enrollment under Subsection 31A-30-108 (3), other than individuals applying for
                  coverage as set forth in P.L. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1979, Sec. 2741 (a)-(b), if:
                      (a) the uninsurable percentage for that carrier equals or exceeds the cap established in
                  Subsection (1); and
                      (b) the covered carrier has certified on forms provided by the commissioner that its
                  uninsurable percentage equals or exceeds the individual enrollment cap.
                      (5) The department may audit a carrier's records to verify whether the carrier's uninsurable
                  classification meets industry standards for underwriting criteria as established by the commissioner
                  in accordance with Subsection 31A-30-106 (1)(k).
                      [(6) (a) On or before July 1, 1997, and each July 1 thereafter, the commissioner:]
                      [(i) shall report to the Utah Health Policy Commission on the distribution of risks assumed
                  by various carriers in the state under the individual enrollment provision of this part; and]
                      [(ii) may make recommendations to the Utah Health Policy Commission and the Legislature
                  regarding the adjustment of the .5% cap on individual enrollment or some other risk adjustment to
                  maintain equitable distribution of risk among carriers.]
                      [(b)] (6) (a) If the commissioner determines that individual enrollment is causing a                   substantial
                  adverse effect on premiums, enrollment, or experience, the commissioner may suspend, limit, or
                  delay further individual enrollment for up to 12 months.
                      [(c)] (b) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish a uniform methodology for
                  calculating and reporting loss ratios for individual policies for determining whether the individual
                  enrollment provisions of Section 31A-30-108 should be waived for an individual carrier
                  experiencing significant and adverse financial impact as a result of complying with those provisions.
                      [(7) (a) On or before November 30, 1995, the commissioner shall report to the Health Policy
                  Commission and the Legislature on:]
                      [(i) the impact of the Small Employer Health Insurance Act on availability of small employer
                  insurance in the market;]
                      [(ii) the number of carriers who have withdrawn from the market or ceased to issue new
                  policies since the implementation of the Small Employer Health Insurance Act;]

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                      [(iii) the expected impact of the individual enrollment provisions on the factors described
                  in Subsections (7)(i) and (ii); and]
                      [(iv) the claims experience, costs, premiums, participation, and viability of the
                  Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool created in Chapter 29.]
                      [(b) The report to the Legislature shall be submitted in writing to each legislator.]
                      Section 10. Section 31A-32a-106 is amended to read:
                       31A-32a-106. Regulation of account administrators -- Administration of tax
                  deductions.
                      (1) The department shall regulate account administrators and may adopt rules necessary to
                  administer this chapter.
                      [(2) Before adopting rules to administer this chapter, the department shall report the
                  proposed rules to the Utah Health Policy Commission.]
                      [(3)] (2) The tax commission may adopt rules necessary to monitor and implement the tax
                  deductions established by this chapter and Section 59-10-114 .

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