'Utah Cares Act' aims to lower costs with universal health care plan

SALT LAKE CITY — As many Americans worry about rising health care costs, Utah health care advocates and lawmakers are pushing a new proposal they say could lower expenses and expand coverage statewide. The proposal, called the Utah Cares Act, is backed by Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, and would create a state-based, publicly funded health care system by expanding the Public Employee Health Program currently offered to state workers and making it available to all Utahns. It would replace private insurance with a universal plan. "No one should have to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor," Blouin said. Under the Utah Cares plan, families would no longer pay monthly insurance premiums, deductibles or copays. Instead, the system would be funded through a publicly administered model that includes a gross receipts tax on larger businesses, while exempting nonprofits, government entities and small businesses. According to their website, the gross receipts tax "collects a small percentage of business revenue—before expenses—to help fund universal healthcare for all Utahns." The plan would also establish a Utah Health Systems Commission to oversee planning, policy coordination and health data, and would separate health insurance coverage from employment. It's designed to cover all medically necessary services for Utah residents, including dental care, vision services, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. "We need better, simpler health care financed fairly for all," said physician, Dr. Joseph Jarvis, a longtime health care reform advocate who worked with Blouin on the proposal. "I was seeing a lot of needs not being met and a lot of expenses. The pushback from for-profit interests was keeping us from doing what was important for patients," Jarvis said. "Health care should be a right, not a privilege," Blouin added. "It's just so critical that when the federal government right now is failing to act, that we take these steps at the state level." Blouin said the bill number should be issued later this week. He hopes it will be heard by a legislative committee soon.

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