Health-care panel met its goals

This past week marked a milestone in Utah's health-care system. The Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force packed up and headed home.

The 14-member task force, which I co-chaired with Rep. David Clark, was formed two years ago to study issues relating to competition and business practices in Utah's health-care market. Specifically, it was asked to assess whether or not Intermountain Healthcare, the state's largest provider of health care and commercial health insurance plans, uses its size and dominance to restrict competition.

Task force members found that the answer depends on one's perspective. We studied the issue extensively. We asked questions, demanded answers and took some important steps to ensure Utah's health-care system operates with fairness.

Undoubtedly, the question of competition is critical. It's essential to fostering a health-care system where quality improves, innovation is encouraged and prices are modified as a result of normal market forces. One expert hired to review the situation for the task force concluded that Utah's health-care system provides vigorous competition with good quality care at reasonable prices. Some disagreed. A number of organizations and individuals (including the Utah Medical Association, the Utah Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, competing insurers and hospital systems) provided testimony regarding errors and flaws with the consultant's result.

Probably more significant, we were presented with a petition signed by more than 3,000 members of Utah working families calling for more choice.

The task force's work did little to quell the disparate voices, but it did raise awareness of many important health issues, including rising costs, the uninsured, competition, tax advantages and charity care. Most important, the legislative oversight provided by the task force resulted in the implementation of several important, positive changes for Utah consumers — most notably:

Improved medical billing practices — IHC announced its commitment to refrain from using court proceedings whenever possible to collect unpaid medical bills and reducing interest rates on unpaid bills.

Expansion of health insurance networks — IHC announced it will offer a health plan that will allow any qualified physician or health-care facility to participate in the plan's network.