Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 417: Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements

HB 417 allows patients to use non-medical transportation (like family rides or public transit) for moving between healthcare facilities when their condition doesn't require ambulance transport. It requires hospitals to provide written notices explaining why ambulance isn't needed, potential insurance coverage issues, and cost details, and to help arrange the transport. Receiving facilities cannot charge for admission or readmission if the patient arrives within two hours of discharge without a medical condition change, and must hold the offered bed. The bill also protects hospitals from liability when non-medical transport is permitted under the specified conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows non-medical transport between facilities, requires cost transparency, prevents admission fees for timely arrivals, improving patient access and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 414: Dental Hygienist Amendments

HB 414 amends Utah's definition of "public health setting" to explicitly include hospitals. This change allows dental hygienists working in hospitals to practice without requiring general supervision from a dentist (meaning a dentist doesn't need to be physically present on-site). The bill directly affects dental hygienists employed in hospital settings by expanding their scope of practice within those facilities. It does not appropriate funds or change other licensing requirements, focusing solely on clarifying where hygienists can work independently. The amendment takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands dental hygienists' scope of practice in hospitals, improving patient access to dental services without requiring on-site dentist supervision.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HJR 4: Resolution Regarding Prison Security and Successful Inmate Reentry

This is a non-binding resolution (HJR 4) from Utah's legislature urging Congress to take specific actions on prison security and inmate reentry. It requests Congress to support the 2025 Second Chance Reauthorization Act (to restore funding for reentry programs), expand affordable health care access for incarcerated individuals before release, pass the 2025 Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act, criminalize drone flights over prisons, and allow pilot programs to mitigate drone threats. The resolution does not appropriate funds or create new state laws, but highlights federal policy gaps using statistics on recidivism, contraband cell phones, and drone incidents. It directly addresses Congress, not Utah residents or state agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesResolution urges restoration of funding for reentry programs and healthcare access, aligning with funding essential services under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUrges funding for reentry programs (Second Chance Act), healthcare access pre-release, and drone security to reduce recidivism and improve inmate reentry outcomes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly urges expanding affordable healthcare access for incarcerated individuals before release, aligns with Medicaid support in subjects95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExplicitly requests passage of Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act and drone security measures to enhance prison cybersecurity, directly advancing technology regulation for security purposes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 258: Insurance Coverage Amendments

HB 258 requires health insurance plans in Utah to cover reversal treatments for gender transition if the plan covers transition-related care. Specifically, plans covering hormonal transgender treatments must also cover reversal hormonal treatments, and plans covering surgical sex transition procedures must cover reversal surgeries. This applies to all health benefit plans renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects insurers and policyholders by mandating this coverage, without appropriating funds or adding new administrative requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for gender transition reversal treatments, expanding access to healthcare services for transgender individuals under covered plans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 264: Prescription Medication Amendments

HB 264 modifies Utah's prescription medication rules to streamline pharmacy operations. It removes the requirement for pharmacies to notify providers when substituting medications (as authorized by the prescription), allows prescription refills to remain valid for two years, and establishes new rules for standing prescriptions issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. Standing prescriptions must be limited to specific conditions, FDA-approved diagnoses, and clinically appropriate treatments. These changes primarily affect pharmacies, patients receiving refills, and healthcare providers who write prescriptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows two-year prescription refills and removes substitution notification requirements, improving patient access to medications and streamlining pharmacy operations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 87: Naloxone Amendments

SB 87 allows healthcare providers and overdose outreach groups to legally administer or dispense **expired naloxone** (up to 24 months past expiration) without fear of legal liability, as long as it’s done in good faith during an overdose emergency. It specifically extends immunity from civil lawsuits or criminal charges for using expired naloxone, clarifies that prescribing/dispensing expired naloxone isn’t unprofessional conduct, and requires providers to educate recipients on its safety, efficacy, and risks. The bill directly affects **licensed healthcare professionals, overdose outreach programs, and individuals at high risk of opioid overdose** (or their family/friends who may assist them). Key provisions include permitting expired naloxone use under standing prescriptions and ensuring providers give clear instructions on overdose response. The law does not change existing rules for non-expired naloxone.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barriers for using expired naloxone in overdose emergencies, improving access to life-saving treatment and protecting providers who act in good faith during opioid crises.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 199: Health Data Amendments

HB 199 amends Utah's health data laws to clarify how the Department of Health and Human Services manages health information. It defines key terms, allows the department to share data with public health, mental health, and substance use authorities for public health purposes, and adds new data security requirements. The bill removes certain reporting obligations for health data providers and updates rules around the All Payer Claims Database. These changes primarily affect health care facilities, providers, insurers, and government agencies handling health data within Utah. The law makes technical updates to existing statutes without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables data sharing with public health/mental health authorities for public health purposes and adds security requirements, facilitating healthcare coordination and data management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 96: Opioid Fatality Review Amendments

SB 96 amends Utah laws to clarify how the Department of Health and Human Services investigates opioid overdose deaths and shares related information. It explicitly states the department can investigate drug overdose fatalities as public health hazards, specifies that treatment records shared with medical examiners must follow federal privacy laws (like 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2), and allows the department to use its authority to identify prevention and intervention opportunities after deaths under the medical examiner’s jurisdiction. The bill directly affects the Department of Health, medical examiners, healthcare providers (who share treatment records), and public health officials. It makes no new funding changes and updates existing codes without creating new programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies public health investigations of opioid deaths, ensures privacy compliance for data sharing, and enables prevention strategies under public health initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 171: Physician Assistant Amendments

HB 171 clarifies that insurance plans must allow patients to select physician assistants (PAs) as primary care providers without higher costs or barriers. It amends Utah law to explicitly include PAs in insurance coverage requirements for primary care, ensuring they are recognized alongside physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, and pediatricians. The bill requires insurers to cover PA services as primary care under the same terms as other providers, preventing higher premiums or copays for choosing a PA. This affects patients seeking primary care and insurance companies operating in Utah, with the changes taking effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures insurance coverage for PA primary care without cost barriers, expanding patient access to healthcare services as required by amended law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 97: Medical Waste Amendments

HB 97, titled "Medical Waste Amendments" (though it addresses medication distribution, not waste), requires health facilities like hospitals, urgent care centers, and surgical facilities to offer unused portions of specific medications to patients upon discharge if continued treatment is needed. The bill covers topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, dilation drops, or glaucoma treatments provided during procedures or visits. It mandates that these medications be labeled per pharmacy laws and requires prescribers to counsel patients on proper use, while exempting them from standard pharmacy counseling rules. This applies directly to patients receiving facility-provided medications during care, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free medication distribution to patients upon discharge, improving access to necessary treatments and reducing waste of usable medications.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare