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

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 205: Substance Use Intervention Amendments

HB 205 creates new pathways for substance use treatment within Utah's criminal justice system. It allows county jails to establish recovery housing pods for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders, requiring approval by local substance abuse authorities and structured treatment programs. The bill also restricts syringe exchange programs to only distributing syringes (not other drug paraphernalia) and prohibits exchanges in public parks. Additionally, it authorizes courts to implement structured treatment programs for drug offenses and issue geographic "off-limits" orders for individuals charged with drug crimes. These changes primarily affect jails, local health authorities, and courts managing drug-related cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates recovery housing pods and treatment programs within jails to address substance use disorders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates treatment pathways in jails, requires structured programs, aligns with healthcare services for substance use disorders92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 402: EMS Controlled Substance Licensing Amendments

HB 402 creates a new state license specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies to legally handle controlled substances (like naloxone or epinephrine) during emergencies. It requires EMS agencies to obtain this license, mandates record-keeping and storage rules, and authorizes the Division of Professional Licensing to enforce standards, deny/suspend licenses for violations, and collect fees. The bill directly affects all Utah EMS agencies currently distributing controlled substances, ensuring they operate under unified state regulations instead of relying solely on federal rules. Key provisions include requiring medical directors to issue standing orders for substance administration and setting clear procedures for license management and inspections.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables EMS agencies to legally administer controlled substances (e.g., naloxone) during emergencies, improving emergency healthcare access and safety standards for patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 222: Right to Try Amendments

SB 222 amends Utah's "Right to Try" law to expand access to investigational drugs. It removes the requirement that patients have a terminal illness, instead allowing individuals with serious conditions that pose significant risks compared to experimental treatments and limited conventional options to qualify. The bill updates definitions to clarify "eligible illness" and expands permissible medicinal dosage forms (e.g., adding transdermal and sublingual options). This change directly affects patients seeking experimental treatments who previously faced eligibility barriers due to non-terminal diagnoses. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to investigational drugs by removing terminal illness requirement, improving patient access for serious conditions with limited options.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 170: Vitamin K Amendments

SB 170 requires healthcare providers and unlicensed midwives to administer vitamin K to newborn infants within 24 hours of birth. Parents may decline this administration by signing a form acknowledging the risks of not receiving vitamin K, which must be included in the infant's medical record. The bill defines key terms like "health care provider" and "unlicensed direct-entry midwife" and applies to all newborns in Utah. This directly affects newborns, their caregivers, and healthcare providers during delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates vitamin K administration for newborns to prevent hemorrhagic disease, a standard preventive health measure protecting infant health and aligning with medical best practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 417: Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements

HB 417 allows patients to use non-medical transportation (like family rides or public transit) for moving between healthcare facilities when their condition doesn't require ambulance transport. It requires hospitals to provide written notices explaining why ambulance isn't needed, potential insurance coverage issues, and cost details, and to help arrange the transport. Receiving facilities cannot charge for admission or readmission if the patient arrives within two hours of discharge without a medical condition change, and must hold the offered bed. The bill also protects hospitals from liability when non-medical transport is permitted under the specified conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows non-medical transport between facilities, requires cost transparency, prevents admission fees for timely arrivals, improving patient access and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 414: Dental Hygienist Amendments

HB 414 amends Utah's definition of "public health setting" to explicitly include hospitals. This change allows dental hygienists working in hospitals to practice without requiring general supervision from a dentist (meaning a dentist doesn't need to be physically present on-site). The bill directly affects dental hygienists employed in hospital settings by expanding their scope of practice within those facilities. It does not appropriate funds or change other licensing requirements, focusing solely on clarifying where hygienists can work independently. The amendment takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands dental hygienists' scope of practice in hospitals, improving patient access to dental services without requiring on-site dentist supervision.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 204: Physical Therapy Payment Amendments

SB 204 requires Utah health insurers to apply the same cost-sharing rules (like copays and deductibles) for physical therapy services as they do for primary care visits. This directly affects patients seeking physical therapy and insurers, ensuring they pay no more out-of-pocket for PT than for a primary care visit. The bill amends Utah law to prohibit insurers from charging higher fees or imposing extra costs for physical therapy compared to primary care, while clarifying that physical therapists must still practice within existing scope-of-practice laws. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to apply same cost-sharing for PT as primary care, improving patient access by preventing higher out-of-pocket costs for physical therapy services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 15: Medicaid Amendments

HB 15 amends Utah's Medicaid expansion program to address potential reductions in federal funding. It changes the automatic end date for the expansion if federal matching funds decrease, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to terminate programs that would reduce federal funds, and mandates a report to the legislature if funding drops. The bill also allows the state tax funding Medicaid expansion to end if the program concludes. These changes directly affect Utah's Medicaid beneficiaries and the state's administration of the program, focusing on maintaining federal funding alignment without new state spending.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill safeguards Medicaid expansion against federal funding cuts by requiring state action to maintain coverage and prevent program termination, directly protecting healthcare access for beneficiaries.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 258: Insurance Coverage Amendments

HB 258 requires health insurance plans in Utah to cover reversal treatments for gender transition if the plan covers transition-related care. Specifically, plans covering hormonal transgender treatments must also cover reversal hormonal treatments, and plans covering surgical sex transition procedures must cover reversal surgeries. This applies to all health benefit plans renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects insurers and policyholders by mandating this coverage, without appropriating funds or adding new administrative requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for gender transition reversal treatments, expanding access to healthcare services for transgender individuals under covered plans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare