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

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 71: Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments

HB 71 requires health insurance companies (covered insurers) to help enrollees access behavioral health services (like mental health and substance use treatment) in a timely manner when in-network providers aren't available. Insurers must publish and regularly update accurate provider directories, facilitate out-of-network care within 7 days (or 24 hours for emergencies), and follow specific rules for single case agreements to cover out-of-network services. The bill also extends these requirements to Utah's Medicaid program and directs the state to create a working group to study a statewide behavioral health provider directory. These changes apply to all insurers offering behavioral health coverage, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurers to ensure timely access to behavioral health services, update provider directories, and facilitate out-of-network care, directly improving patient access to mental health coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 50: Anesthesia Dosage Amendments

SB 50 requires health insurance plans in Utah to cover medically necessary anesthesia services regardless of procedure duration, directly affecting patients needing anesthesia and insurers offering health coverage. It prohibits insurers from denying payment for anesthesia solely based on exceeding preset time limits, ensuring coverage isn't withheld for extended care. The law applies to health benefit plans renewed or entered after January 1, 2027, and is codified under Utah Code Section 31A-22-663. This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for medically necessary anesthesia regardless of duration, preventing denial based on time limits and expanding patient access to essential services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 117: Organ Donation Amendments

HB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates organ donation registration during healthcare visits and creates statewide communication plan for life-saving programs, advancing public health initiatives within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 285: Uninsured Children Dental Care Amendments

SB 285 creates a new "Uninsured Children Dental Care Restricted Account" within Utah's General Fund and appropriates $5 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund dental care for uninsured children. The bill directs the University of Utah School of Dentistry's Oral Health Assistance Program to provide these services across all counties. Funds are nonlapsing for FY2027-28, with excess amounts over $200,000 lapsing to the General Fund starting FY2028-29. This bill directly affects uninsured children in Utah by expanding access to dental care through a dedicated funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M from General Fund for uninsured children's dental care, directly increasing state spending on public health services per budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $5M for dental care services for uninsured children, directly expanding access to health services and funding a healthcare program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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