Utah Set For Change?

The Utah Health System Reform Task Force is in preparation to make it’s recommendations. The aim is to overhaul the state’s health care system. This, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. According to Mark Bair, Chair of the work group of health care providers, all uninsured people would need to obtain coverage to work. This will need affordable and portable health plans which will be issued on a modified community rating. Residents who already have health issues will have to be provided coverage.

According to Bair, shopping for health insurance needs to be made easy via a website that gives information on all the available choices. Also tax advantages and choices would need to be maximized. The medical malpractice system needs an overhaul. There have to be incentives for people to live healthy.
According to Greg Poulson, VP at Intermountain Healthcare, one major problem was cost shifting from the uninsured to the insured, the other problem was increased utilization of health care. There have to be incremental steps in health care betterment for the Utahns.

Judi Hilman, executive director of the Utah Health Policy Project said that marketplace changes were necessary. Insurance companies should compete over keeping people healthy and not over avoiding risk.