Emergency room task force approved by Senate, but still needs funding

A proposal to create a task force to look into the misuse of hospital emergency rooms got preliminary approval by the full Senate on Wednesday morning.

SB119, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, provides about $35,000 for the creation of a 12-member panel charged with finding ways to make sure only genuine emergencies are being treated in the state's emergency rooms.

Buttars said he had spoken with emergency room physicians who told him that about 60 percent of the people they see are there for reasons that are not truly emergencies.

He said the creation of a task force would be "a major step toward dealing with the problem."

Senate Minority Leader Patricia Jones, D-Salt Lake, called the proposal a "great idea."

Senate Majority Assistant Whip Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, said that it is unlikely any task force will be funded this year. The average cost for task forces are $35,000 annually.

E-mail: dservatius@desnews.com