House Republican Caucus Lunch

House Republican Caucus 2/2/2010

Speaker Dave Clark spoke on his Health System Reform Amendments Bill (which is still being written). He noted that the bill intends to:

“Increase Transparency” –
· Instructs the Utah Insurance commissioner to develop a method so that health insurer’s claims can be compared.

“Equalizes the market” –
· Bill is going to optimize health insurance choice for Utah businesses and their employees.
· Equalizing the defined benefit and defined contribution, so each market does not skew the other market unfairly.

“Allows employers coverage flexibility” –
· Employers will be able to choose either defined benefit or defined contribution plans inside the Exchange.
· Within the Exchange there will be a premium aggregator with expanded employee choice.
· The defined benefit plans in the Exchange, will not be able outside the Exchange in the regular insurance market.

“Makes health care costs controllable and predictable for Utah businesses and gives employees expanded coverage option and more control over their health care dollars” –
Expands the defined contribution market and how both employers and employees can pay for their health insurance within the Exchange.

UPEA is tracking how Health Systems Reform is being brought about in the small employer market, as Speaker Clark’s vision includes expanding the Utah Health Exchange to the large employer market in 1-2 years.