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 other

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 590: Child Therapy Amendments

HB 590 ensures children transitioning out of foster care in Utah can continue seeing their existing mental health therapist without losing coverage. It requires insurers to offer special agreements for these children (called "covered children") to access out-of-network therapists who provided care while they were in foster care, with the same cost-sharing as in-network providers. The Division of Child and Family Services must also coordinate with therapists when children enter or leave foster care to maintain treatment continuity. This applies specifically to children receiving outpatient mental health services, excluding those in residential or higher-level care facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continuous mental health coverage for foster care youth by requiring insurers to cover out-of-network therapists at in-network cost-sharing, expanding access and protecting patient rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 73: Online Age Verification Amendments

SB 73 requires online platforms providing content deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It imposes an excise tax on these platforms, with revenues funding mental health programs and enforcement through the Division of Consumer Protection. The bill creates two dedicated accounts for these funds and grants the Division authority to investigate violations, impose fines, and establish verification standards. Platforms failing to comply face civil penalties, while approved verification methods receive a safe harbor from liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes excise tax on platforms to fund mental health programs and enforcement, directly allocating tax revenue to public services per Budget & Taxes topic description.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates excise tax revenues to fund mental health programs, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates age verification for minors' safety on platforms, funds mental health via tax, aligns with consumer protection regulations in tech governance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 379: Child Care Provider Food Preparation Amendments

HB 379 exempts licensed child care providers in Utah from standard food service establishment regulations. Instead, it authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to create specific food safety and sanitation rules for these providers, based on food volume and preparation type - not the number of children served. The bill directly affects licensed child care facilities operating under Utah’s child care licensing system, replacing general food safety requirements with tailored standards. It makes technical changes to relevant Utah Code sections without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates tailored food safety rules for child care under Health Department oversight, directly protecting public health by preventing foodborne illness in children.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

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 19, 2026

HB 351: School Vision Screening Amendments

HB 351 requires Utah public schools to follow up with parents within 30 days if a student fails a vision screening, confirming they received results and offering help finding care. It affects students aged 3-16 in Utah public schools, their parents, and school staff conducting screenings. The bill establishes a two-tier screening system (basic "tier one" and more detailed "tier two"), mandates training for school nurses and volunteers, and creates standardized forms to ensure screenings aren't confused with full eye exams. Schools must also provide resources for follow-up care and prevent volunteers from promoting businesses during screenings. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates vision screening follow-up and care access for students, enhancing student health and educational access in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school follow-up for vision screenings, ensuring students access to care and improving health service access for K-12 students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 390: Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments

HB 390 authorizes Utah's Huntsman Mental Health Institute to conduct a clinical study on the safety and feasibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD (veterans whose PTSD hasn't improved with standard treatments). The bill permits Huntsman to accept donations and grants to fund the study, requiring combined legislative appropriations and donations to reach a sufficient threshold by January 1, 2027, to begin the research. Huntsman must report findings to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and will return unused donations by July 1, 2032. The study must comply with federal and state regulations, including FDA oversight and safety protocols for administering psychedelic drugs like MDMA or psilocybin in controlled settings. The bill makes no direct funding appropriation and focuses solely on enabling this specific research initiative.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires legislative appropriations to fund PTSD research, directly advancing budget allocation for a specific health program through state funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding mental health treatment innovation through legislative appropriations and grants.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding new treatment options to improve veteran healthcare access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 288: Medicaid Provider Amendments

SB 288 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to establish quality standards for Medicaid providers (including managed care entities and fee-for-service providers) and annually report their performance to the legislature. It mandates a new "closed loop referral system" to coordinate social needs care (like housing or food assistance) for Medicaid-eligible individuals, ensuring secure communication and tracking of referrals between providers. The bill appropriates $42.7 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund these requirements, including $16.9 million from the General Fund. This directly affects Medicaid providers through performance evaluations and new reporting duties, while improving care coordination for Medicaid enrollees with social needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $42.7 million for Medicaid provider quality standards and referral system, increasing government spending on public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid quality standards, mandates coordinated social needs referrals, and appropriates $42.7M to improve care access and provider performance for Medicaid recipients.92% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 261: Pharmacy Practice Amendments

SB 261 amends Utah's pharmacy laws to expand pharmacists' roles and improve oversight. It allows pharmacists to prescribe vaccines and epinephrine directly, increases patient access to these services, and permits online sales of pseudoephedrine under specific safeguards. The bill also requires an electronic tracking system for pseudoephedrine sales to prevent diversion, managed by the Division of Professional Licensing and the Board of Pharmacy. These changes primarily affect pharmacists, patients seeking vaccinations or epinephrine, and retailers selling pseudoephedrine. The bill makes no changes to funding or existing pharmacy licensing structures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' prescribing authority for vaccines/epinephrine, directly increasing patient access to care per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 559: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments

HB 559 designates October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and requires health care facilities providing birthing services to implement specific compassionate care practices when patients experience pregnancy or infant loss. These practices include offering memory-making opportunities (like photos or keepsakes), access to grief counseling, and protocols for anticipated losses, all to ensure dignity and support. The bill also mandates that health care professionals in emergency care, obstetrics, gynecology, and labor and delivery settings complete bereavement training on supporting patients, which can count toward their continuing medical education requirements. These provisions apply directly to Utah health care facilities and providers, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates grief counseling, memory-making, and compassionate protocols for pregnancy/infant loss, enhancing patient support and mental health services in healthcare facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare