Utah- UHE: State Based Innovation

Unlike the federal plan, Utah’s health reform doesn’t rely on government mandates, and instead creates a voluntary health exchange. I emphasize that our exchange was created long before Obamacare.

The Utah Health Exchange (UHE) is among the State’s most critical initiatives right now, and has captured the attention of policymakers across the country. While health reform has become a political hot potato, especially since the passage of PPACA, Utah has lead out on the national stage, without the high costs and questionable mandates of other plans.

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Currently, Utah State law limits the Exchange to assisting small business groups with 2-50 employees, but it will soon be available to individuals and larger groups. The reason for the limitation is to allow the Exchange to test its technology on a small scale before accommodating a wider range of Utah’s population. During this testing phase, the State has found that the Utah Health Exchange is well equipped to handle its current load — 247 employer groups with more than 6,000 covered employees — and a lot of room to grow.

The federal reform plan goes into effect January 1, 2014, meaning our Utah-specific option must be adapt to the requirements for exchanges under PPACA before then. The Governor and I believe that, with the continued support of the Legislature, the Utah Health Exchange will meet that deadline and continue to lead the country’s health reform efforts in a uniquely Utah way.


http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/17635973-Utah-Health-Exchange-State-Based-Innovation
Hat tip: Utah Pulse with YouTube Video Explaining the UHE