"It became more of a study of the health-care system than a vendetta or whatever you want to call it against any particular organization," said Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City.

That is where the inquiry into the state's health-care system should have begun, according to some lawmakers. A finding that the state has high-quality health care does not account for the some 300,000 uninsured Utahns or address the very real needs of that population, said Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City.

"I think you have to look at health care as a whole rather than just study a privately owned company," Biskupski said. "It was a little frustrating, I think, for most of the people on the committee. We really want to make a difference to try to improve health care in Utah, but the task force made it very difficult."

At the very least, some say, the task force opened the lines of communication between state policy makers and key players in Utah's health-care market.

"It started a critical conversation about health care that needed to happen here in Utah," said Jennifer Beer Cannaday, assistant vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. "The members of the task force are walking away with a much better understanding, and that can only be good."

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com