H.J.R. 19

1

JOINT RESOLUTION URGING HEALTH CARE
2 FOR UTAH'S INDIGENT AND NEEDY
3 UNINSURED
4 2005 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Lorie D. Fowlke
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges that public comment, research, and
11 recommendations be provided and considered for the adoption of an authentic charity
12 care system in the state of Utah.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . urges academicians, the insurance industry, think tanks, and others to study the
16 feasibility of implementing an authentic charity care system in Utah;
17 . urges that a list of factors be considered by these groups as part of the study; and
18 . urges that a report of this group's findings be made to the Legislature by November
19 30, 2005.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
22
23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, Utah is known for its compassionate people who are generous and kind in
25 helping their neighbors in need;
26 WHEREAS, Utahns have demonstrated an unsurpassed dedication to voluntary service;
27 WHEREAS, according to the Utah Department of Health, approximately 215,000 or

28 9% of Utahns lacked health insurance in 2003;
29 WHEREAS, over 200,000 Utahns receive their health insurance from the Utah
30 Department of Health at a budgeted cost of more than $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2005;
31 WHEREAS, Utah faces severe fiscal challenges in providing for rapidly expanding and
32 very expensive education, health care, and transportation needs; and
33 WHEREAS, the Sutherland Institute has released a report recommending that Utah can
34 meet the basic health care needs for all of its indigent and needy uninsured residents while
35 saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars, building true community, and without
36 eligibility restrictions:
37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
38 urges think tanks, academicians, the insurance industry, and all others with an interest in
39 providing universal health care for the poor to study the feasibility of implementing an
40 authentic charity care system in Utah and report their findings to the Legislature by November
41 30, 2005.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature specifically requests thoughtful
43 consideration and direct input from these groups on:
44 . the projected costs of all state government-provided health care services over
45 the next ten years;
46 . how a proposed authentic charity care system should be governed, administered,
47 and sufficiently financed;
48 . how volunteer medical professionals should be organized, coordinated, and
49 utilized in an authentic charity care system;
50 . the projected capital and operating costs of providing the necessary number of
51 conveniently located, full-service, charity care facilities throughout the state;
52 . how the principle of reciprocity should be administered in the new system; and
53 . the projected costs of implementing an authentic charity care system over the
54 next ten years.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
56 Department of Insurance, the Utah Department of Health, the presidents of the state's
57 institutions of higher education, the Utah Medical Association, and the Utah Insurance
58 Association.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-2-05 10:39 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel