Healthcare

SB 211 prevents defendants in personal injury lawsuits from using evidence about third-party payments (like insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid) to reduce compensation. It makes inadmissible any information about collateral sources, reduced medical bills, health care provider liens, or the plaintiff’s personal financial obligations for treatment. This directly affects plaintiffs who received medical care covered by insurance and defendants who previously tried to lower settlements based on pre-paid medical costs. The law requires courts to instruct juries not to consider these factors during trials.

HB 356 clarifies Utah's rules for the federal 340B drug discount program, which provides discounted medications to eligible healthcare organizations. It defines key terms like "340B covered entity" (e.g., hospitals or clinics participating in the federal program) and prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting contracts between pharmacies and these entities or requiring excessive data sharing beyond federal requirements. The bill directly affects 340B-covered entities, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers by ensuring they cannot interfere with program participation or impose unnecessary conditions. It makes technical updates to Utah law without new funding, aligning state rules with federal program standards.

HB 7 is the Social Services Base Budget for Utah’s fiscal years 2026 and 2027, providing $8.6 billion in total funding to state agencies, primarily the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects programs like Child and Family Services, Medicaid, mental health services, and health care administration by allocating specific funds - such as $1.588 billion from the General Fund for 2027 and $53.38 million for legal cost reporting. Key provisions include requiring the Health and Human Services Department to report to lawmakers by May 2026 on attorney fees for child welfare services, including historical costs and funding gaps. The bill establishes concrete budget allocations for operations, capital projects, and specific initiatives without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements.