Rx sought for health care woes in Utah

Two state senators on Tuesday said a legislative task force set up to examine Utah's health-care system is failing and called for a broader investigation by state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The two, both members of the Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force, cited concerns about the business practices of Utah's insurance industry and hospital systems and monopolies that are cutting out choice and competition in the health-care market.

"I don't think we've accomplished anything. In fact, I'm seeing the problem is even bigger than I envisioned a year ago," said task force co-chairman Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-West Jordan.

Waddoups said he has met with the Utah Department of Insurance and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to discuss possible violations of Utah consumer protection laws, specifically antitrust provisions, and plans to encourage the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to also look into the matter.

"When you get to that size, that's where government really does have a purpose, have a role," Waddoups said. "We have regulations, but I just don't believe they're tight enough right now."

Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, has joined Waddoups in his request for investigations into what he perceives as a detrimental lack of competition and potential "gaming" of Utah's tight health-care market.

"I'm not here proposing a solution," Davis said. "I think what we want to do is see some investigation going on."

The move caught some fellow task force members off guard Tuesday. And with a consultant hired by the task force to analyze Utah's overall health-care system set to release his findings late next week, it also raised questions about the timing and motivation behind the announcement.

"We find it strange that there would be this call for another review when the task force has not yet completed its work," said Daron Cowley, spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare, the state's largest health-care network and the focus of much of the committee's work so far.

Task force member Rep. Pat Jones, D-Cottonwood Heights, was unaware of the plan, which she called a "drastic step."

"Why not just bring that up in the task force?" Jones asked, noting the group, despite getting off to a slow start, was beginning to make progress on identifying possible reforms.

Rep. James Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, was equally unaware of the push for an investigation when contacted Tuesday.

"I think it's certainly an area that's under the purview of the task force and could be addressed by the task force," he said.