Lively debate likely on health, family

While tax reform proposals and education spending are likely to be dominant topics during the 2005 Legislature, also expected are lively debates about spending Medicaid dollars on the poor and disabled, protecting families and improving access to health care.

Legislation unveiled so far in anticipation of the 45-day session, slated to start Monday, tackles a variety of family oriented issues, including mandatory divorce mediation, eliminating no-fault divorces in certain circumstances and revamping a variety of child welfare laws.

A number of failed proposals are scheduled for resurrection, including a measure by Rep. David Hogue, R-Riverton, that would eliminate the asset test for children for Medicaid and lift the cap on the state's Children's Health Insurance Plan.

Utah remains one of only a handful of states across the country that continues to use the test, which prevents Medicaid eligibility if a family's assets are above $3,000.

The practice means many otherwise-eligible Medicaid children are enrolled in CHIP, which has capped its enrollment because of funding shortfalls.

Hogue's measure would eliminate the asset test and remove the enrollment cap, freeing up an additional 7,700 slots in CHIP for children across the state who lack health insurance.

The funding, at a price tag of $4 million, would come from the state's restricted account in the tobacco lawsuit settlement fund, money that would generate an additional $16 million in a federal four-to-one match.

Other Medicaid changes on the table are being brought by Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, who is pushing to restore adult dental and vision benefits that were eliminated in the 2002 session due to budget shortfalls.

"Now that we have $300 million-plus dollars coming in this year, it is important to restore those programs we had to take out in the past," Mascaro said.

As introduced, Mascaro's proposals calls for the return of $5.7 million to the state's Medicaid bank, a number he said likely will need to be increased to about $7 million to fully meet the needs.

Aside from trying to shore up health care needs for the poor, lawmakers also want to improve access for the general public.

Sen. Parley Hellewell, R-Orem, is running a bill similar to a measure he saw fail last year — eliminate the "monopoly" enjoyed by some health care providers by assuring consumers can go to any doctor or hospital they choose, even if the provider is not part of an HMO.