Healthcare

vetoed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 164: Health Care Patient Reporting to the Division of Professional Licensing

HB 164 requires health care providers to give patients written information about reporting unprofessional or unlawful conduct to Utah's Division of Professional Licensing before patients sign any nondisclosure agreement. It makes such agreements legally unenforceable unless the provider first provides a standardized model notice explaining how to file a complaint. The bill directs the Division to create and publish this notice online, including details on what constitutes misconduct and the reporting process. This affects patients seeking to report provider misconduct and health care providers using nondisclosure clauses, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires providers to disclose complaint rights before NDAs, strengthening patient protections in healthcare provider interactions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 259: Parental Access to Children's Medical Records Amendments

This bill requires Utah healthcare facilities to provide parents or legal guardians full access to minors' electronic medical records, unless exceptions apply (such as a minor's consent for specific treatments, a court order, or if the parent isn't legally authorized under state/federal law). It mandates electronic health record vendors to ensure systems support this access and authorizes the attorney general to enforce compliance with fines up to $10,000 per day. Facilities must also provide paper records free of charge upon request if electronic access is restricted. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, and aligns with federal privacy standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates parental access to minors' medical records, improving caregiver access to health information and aligning with patient rights protections in healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 45: Kratom Adjustments

SB 45 repeals Utah's 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act and classifies alkaloids found in kratom as Schedule I controlled substances under state law. This change directly affects kratom users and businesses in Utah, removing previous regulatory protections and making kratom possession or sale illegal under state law. The bill amends Utah's controlled substances code to include kratom alkaloids in Schedule I, which prohibits use due to no accepted medical purpose and high abuse potential. This policy shift reverses prior regulations that allowed regulated sale and use of kratom products.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareClassifies kratom alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances, restricting access to a substance sometimes used for health purposes, under Health and Human Services jurisdiction.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SCR 5: Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Pain Medication

This bill directs Utah's state health plan (PEHP) to make specific changes to its drug coverage starting in 2027. It requires PEHP to include at least one non-opioid pain medication alternative for every opioid drug in its formulary (drug list), and prohibits using cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other extra steps to discourage patients from choosing these alternatives. The resolution aims to address coverage gaps that may lead patients toward opioids instead of safer options. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law, and applies directly to PEHP's coverage policies.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates non-opioid alternatives in PEHP formulary without barriers, promoting safer pain management and reducing opioid reliance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 83: Controlled Substance Scheduling Amendments

SB 83 amends Utah's controlled substance scheduling laws to automatically align state schedules with federal changes. Specifically, it requires Utah to automatically reschedule pharmaceutical compositions of substances previously classified as Schedule I under federal law if the federal government reschedules them. This affects pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers who handle these substances, as it eliminates the need for separate state legislative action when federal scheduling changes. The bill does not add new substances to schedules or appropriate funds, focusing solely on streamlining the rescheduling process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomates federal scheduling alignment, removing barriers for healthcare providers to access rescheduled pharmaceuticals, improving patient access to treatments.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 161: Evaluations in Guardianship Amendments

SB 161 amends Utah's guardianship laws to clarify rights for individuals alleged to be incapacitated and update procedures for court-appointed health care assessments. The bill ensures that Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rights are preserved and sets new standards for health care providers conducting assessments, including requiring their reports to be filed with the court. It also prohibits health care providers from interviewing the person seeking guardianship or including their opinions in assessment reports. These changes apply to guardianships granted on or after May 7, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePreserves HIPAA rights and sets standards for health care assessments in guardianship cases, protecting patient rights during evaluations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 311: Medical Translation Amendments

SB 311 requires the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to develop a multilingual SafeUT software application (including Spanish) to support a 24/7 crisis line for school safety. The SafeUT Crisis Line enables anonymous reporting of incidents like bullying, violence, or abuse in schools, while providing crisis intervention for emotional distress. The bill establishes a commission with representatives from state agencies, education, and the public to oversee the program. The application will be accessible to students, parents, and school staff to report concerns and access support, with no funding appropriated and effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates school safety crisis line with mental health support for K-12 students, enhancing student safety and access to resources within education context.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health crisis app development, expanding access to mental health services for students through school safety programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 527: Pharmacy Pricing Amendments

HB 527 amends Utah's pharmacy pricing rules to require pharmacy benefit managers to base reimbursement rates only on drugs rated "A" or "B" in the FDA's Orange Book (or similar ratings) that are not obsolete and generally available in the state. It clarifies key terms like "maximum allowable cost" and "rebate," and grants the Insurance Department authority to create implementing rules. This directly affects pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers by changing how drug reimbursement rates are calculated. The bill does not appropriate funds or create new taxes.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts reimbursement to FDA-rated A/B drugs only, limiting covered medications and potentially reducing patient access to non-rated drugs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 321: Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments

HB 321 establishes that Utah's Department of Health and Human Services must pay University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics the standard Medicaid base rate (not higher rates) for inmate medical care when no contract exists, creating a savings mechanism. It requires the department to deposit 50% of these savings into a new "Inmate Medical Treatment Restricted Account" for correctional health services, while the other 50% returns to the General Fund. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees detailing the savings calculations and account balances. This directly affects state departments managing inmate healthcare, hospitals providing services, and incarcerated individuals receiving medical treatment. The policy changes focus on standardizing reimbursement rates and tracking cost savings without altering healthcare delivery.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill standardizes inmate medical rates to save costs, directing 50% of savings to General Fund, promoting fiscal responsibility and budget management.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates 50% of inmate medical savings to correctional health services, directly funding a key criminal justice component per bill's funding mechanism.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects 50% of savings from lower inmate medical payments into a dedicated correctional health services account, explicitly funding this healthcare subsector.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 383: Department of Health and Human Services Amendments

HB 383 amends Utah's Health and Human Services code to clarify operational procedures within the department. It removes rulemaking authority from the Primary Care Grant Committee, clarifies membership and independence for the Compassionate Use Board and Health Workforce Advisory Council, and updates rules for Medicaid dental benefits and disability service funding transitions. The bill also specifies that the department may establish rules for congregate care ombudsman services and clarifies hospital transfer procedures for individuals in correctional custody. These changes affect department staff, advisory boards, healthcare providers, and service recipients, but the bill contains no new funding or significant policy shifts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates Medicaid dental benefits and disability funding rules, clarifying procedures to maintain service access without defunding85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare