February 7, 2020

Hello health care advocates,

We have made it through the second week of the legislative session! Please see below for an updated list of bills UHPP is following, and their current status.

We also have two calls to action for you today:

1- Use this simple link to send a letter to your legislators in support of HB207 , Insulin Access Amendments: https://p2a.co/oayWzVV
Please be sure to customize the form letter!

2- Contact members of the Senate Business and Labor committee to support HB38 , Substance Use and Health Care Amendments.
Reminder, this bill would direct Utah to request a waiver from CMS to allow Utahns with substance use disorder to access Medicaid 30 days before release from a correctional facility. It also creates a telehealth pilot program, and a tax credit for providers who treat patients in correctional facilities.

Let us know if there are any action alerts you'd like us to share with the coalition next week!
BILLS WE’RE SUPPORTING

This 'Keeping Kids Covered' bill would provide 12- month continuous eligibility for kids on Medicaid, and would address other potential barriers to coverage for children by allowing automatic CHIP premiums and chartering a study on Utah’s kids churn issue.

STATUS:
Fiscal note available
House Rules Committee

Directs the Utah Department of Health, or third party firm, to analyze All Payer Claims Database (APCD) and report yearly on wasteful spending in Utah.

STATUS:
House HHS - favorable recommendation
House/ 2nd Reading

HB 207 Insulin Access Amendments , Representative Thurston 
This bill creates an incentive for health benefit plans to reduce the required copayments for insulin. As well as increasing the number of days for which an insulin prescription can be refilled, increasing the length of time an insulin prescription can last, and increases the number of professions that can be licensed to prescribe insulin.

STATUS:
 Bill was heard in House HHS committee - held pending revisions, will be back soon...

Provides funding appropriated by the Legislature for a professional education scholarships and loan repayment assistance to health care professionals who locate or continue to practice in underserved areas; and loan repayment assistance to geriatric professionals who locate or continue to underserved areas.

STATUS:
House Passed 3rd Reading
Senate Rules Committee

Adds dental education programs to the list of training programs in the rural residency training program.

STATUS:
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings
House/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings

Directs the Utah Department of Health to apply for a waiver allow inmates with substance use disorder to apply for and receive Medicaid benefits up to 30 days before release from a correctional facility. Creates a substance use and mental health tele-health pilot program to be conducted in one or more county jails, and tax refund for qualifying clinicians providing care for incarcerated individuals.

STATUS:
House/ passed 3rd reading
House/ to Senate Business and Labor Committee

Extends the repeal date for the Children's Hearing Aid Program.

STATUS:
House/ passed 3rd reading
Senate Rules Committee

This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to address escalating prescription drug prices.

STATUS:
House HHS - favorable recommendation
House 3rd Reading

HB 34 Tanning for Minors , Representative Daw
Removes the provision that allows a minor to tan with a parent's or physician's consent. Directs the department to post warning signs that are consistent with this bill.

STATUS:
House/ failed
House circled

BILLS WE’RE WATCHING 

SB 74 Family Planning Services , Senator Kitchen
This bill requires the Division of Health Care Financing to apply for a Medicaid waiver or a state plan amendment to extend family planning services to certain low-income individuals; and extends the sunset date for the current reporting requirement.

STATUS:
Senate HHS/ held

HB 214 Insurance Coverage Amendments , Representative Ward
Requires the Department of Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization and genetic testing for certain individuals; requires PEHP to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization and genetic testing for certain individuals. 

STATUS:
Fiscal note available
House Business & Labor Committee

HB 32 Crisis Services Amendment , Representative Eliason
Expanded crisis services including expanded mobile crisis outreach statewide, Medicaid reimbursement for certain inpatient treatment, receiving center pilot program, and statewide warm line

STATUS:
Fiscal note received, sent to House HHS

Modifies and enacts provisions related to mental health treatment access. Gives recommendations on the need for more adult beds at the Utah State Hospital. Outlines the responsibilities of assertive community outreach treatment teams (ACOTT's) and requests a grant to develop ACOTT's.

STATUS:
Fiscal note available
House HHS Committee

HB 86 Adult Autism Treatment Program , Representative Hall 
Works to create the Adult Autism Treatment Account to allocate more money for this specific budgeting.

STATUS:
House HHS/ passed
House 2nd Reading

This bill amends the definition of unprofessional conduct for prescribing health care professionals and pharmacists.

STATUS:
House/ passed 3rd reading
Senate HHS - favorable recommendation

HB 249 Insulin Copay Amendments , Representative Ballard
This bill enacts provisions related to the price of insulin. This bill places a cap on the copayment an insurance company can require for an insulin to 100$ per 30 days supply as of January 1, 2021.

STATUS:
House Rules Committee

This bill requires a health benefit plan to cover in-vitro fertilization if it provides a maternity benefit.

STATUS:
House Business and Labor Committee

Amends provisions relating to the allocation of new appropriations to the Division of Services for People with Disabilities 

STATUS:
Senate HHS/ passed
Fiscal note available
Senate/ 2nd Reading

HB 97 Newborn Safe Haven Amendments , Representative Arent
This bill subjects to certain requirements, allows a parent or a parent's designee to safely relinquish a newborn child within 30 days after the day on which the child is born.

STATUS:
House HHS/ passed
House 3rd Reading

Implements more transparency measures on PBMs. One pager coming soon!

STATUS:
House Rules Committee

HB 7 Social Services Base Budget , Representative Ray
This bill supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020 and appropriates funds for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.

STATUS:
House/ passed 3rd reading
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings

Unnumbered - Pharmaceutical Entity Transparency Act, Representative Thurston
Don't forget that Health Care Round Table will meet next Wednesday, 2/12 at 1pm in the Kletting room . Please come to share updates.
Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Courtney Bullard
Education and Collaborations Director
Utah Health Policy Project
Email- Courtney@healthpolicyproject.org