Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 96: Opioid Fatality Review Amendments

SB 96 amends Utah laws to clarify how the Department of Health and Human Services investigates opioid overdose deaths and shares related information. It explicitly states the department can investigate drug overdose fatalities as public health hazards, specifies that treatment records shared with medical examiners must follow federal privacy laws (like 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2), and allows the department to use its authority to identify prevention and intervention opportunities after deaths under the medical examiner’s jurisdiction. The bill directly affects the Department of Health, medical examiners, healthcare providers (who share treatment records), and public health officials. It makes no new funding changes and updates existing codes without creating new programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies public health investigations of opioid deaths, ensures privacy compliance for data sharing, and enables prevention strategies under public health initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 171: Physician Assistant Amendments

HB 171 clarifies that insurance plans must allow patients to select physician assistants (PAs) as primary care providers without higher costs or barriers. It amends Utah law to explicitly include PAs in insurance coverage requirements for primary care, ensuring they are recognized alongside physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, and pediatricians. The bill requires insurers to cover PA services as primary care under the same terms as other providers, preventing higher premiums or copays for choosing a PA. This affects patients seeking primary care and insurance companies operating in Utah, with the changes taking effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures insurance coverage for PA primary care without cost barriers, expanding patient access to healthcare services as required by amended law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 71: Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments

HB 71 requires health insurance companies (covered insurers) to help enrollees access behavioral health services (like mental health and substance use treatment) in a timely manner when in-network providers aren't available. Insurers must publish and regularly update accurate provider directories, facilitate out-of-network care within 7 days (or 24 hours for emergencies), and follow specific rules for single case agreements to cover out-of-network services. The bill also extends these requirements to Utah's Medicaid program and directs the state to create a working group to study a statewide behavioral health provider directory. These changes apply to all insurers offering behavioral health coverage, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurers to ensure timely access to behavioral health services, update provider directories, and facilitate out-of-network care, directly improving patient access to mental health coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 50: Anesthesia Dosage Amendments

SB 50 requires health insurance plans in Utah to cover medically necessary anesthesia services regardless of procedure duration, directly affecting patients needing anesthesia and insurers offering health coverage. It prohibits insurers from denying payment for anesthesia solely based on exceeding preset time limits, ensuring coverage isn't withheld for extended care. The law applies to health benefit plans renewed or entered after January 1, 2027, and is codified under Utah Code Section 31A-22-663. This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for medically necessary anesthesia regardless of duration, preventing denial based on time limits and expanding patient access to essential services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 117: Organ Donation Amendments

HB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates organ donation registration during healthcare visits and creates statewide communication plan for life-saving programs, advancing public health initiatives within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 480: Medical Record Amendments

HB 480 amends Utah's medical record laws to clarify abortion classifications. It defines "elective abortion" as one not needed for health reasons and "medically indicated abortion" as one required to save a woman's life, treat a pregnancy loss, or address serious health risks. The bill allows patients to request that their medical records reflect a prior abortion as "not elective" (i.e., medically necessary), and requires healthcare providers to update records upon such a request. These changes affect patients who have had abortions and the healthcare providers maintaining their records, with no new funding or major procedural shifts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies medical records to protect patient rights by allowing correction of abortion classifications to reflect medical necessity, advancing patient-centered healthcare documentation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 216: Child Support Calculation Amendments

HB 216 amends Utah's child support law to exclude Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits from the gross income calculation used to determine child support payments. This change directly affects parents who receive SSDI, ensuring these disability benefits are not counted as income when calculating their child support obligation. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 81-6-203 by adding SSDI to a list of excluded benefits, alongside other means-tested programs like Medicaid and SNAP. This adjustment aligns with existing exclusions for similar benefits and prevents SSDI recipients from having these funds considered as available income for support payments. The change takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExcludes SSDI (disability benefits) from child support calculations, protecting access to healthcare-related disability benefits per Utah Code changes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 257: Opiate Information Amendments

HB 257 requires pharmacies, not the state, to provide patients receiving opiate prescriptions with a pamphlet covering addiction risks, safe storage/disposal methods, pain management alternatives, naloxone benefits, and substance use disorder resources. The pamphlets must be written in simple language, available in multiple languages, and periodically reviewed for effectiveness. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required. It directly affects pharmacies dispensing opiates and patients receiving such prescriptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pharmacies to provide patient education on opioid risks, safe use, and resources, directly improving patient safety and access to harm reduction information within healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 156: Blood Transfusion Amendments

HB 156 allows patients to use their own blood or blood from a designated donor (like a family member) for transfusions, unless it's an emergency, there's insufficient time to arrange it, or the healthcare facility already has a process for patient-provided blood. It prohibits healthcare facilities from blocking this option and provides liability protection for providers if injuries occur from using such blood, unless the provider was grossly negligent. The bill directly affects patients needing transfusions and Utah healthcare facilities, taking effect in May 2026. It defines key terms and aligns with federal blood collection laws, with no funding impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to blood transfusion options by allowing self-donated or family donor blood, prohibiting facility barriers, and protecting providers from liability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 277: Traditional Healing Amendments

HB 277 exempts traditional healing providers from state licensing requirements when offering services defined under Utah law and developed in consultation with Utah Native American tribes and indigenous communities. The bill amends Utah’s licensing code to explicitly include traditional healing as a licensed exemption under Section 58-1-307, clarifying that providers practicing traditional healing services do not need a state license. It makes no changes to funding or other requirements, focusing solely on removing licensing barriers for these practitioners. This directly affects traditional healing providers operating within Utah’s defined framework. The exemption applies only to services conducted in accordance with tribal consultations and existing legal definitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensing barriers for traditional healers, improving access to culturally specific healthcare services without altering funding or coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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