Legislators shunned proposed health coverage mandates
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 Health insurance mandates – laws requiring insurers to cover certain types of care – had no chance in the Utah legislature this session. Not only did lawmakers allow insurance companies to get around some existing mandates in the name of healthcare reform, they shot down three bills that would have required coverage of autism therapy, prosthetic limbs and a nutritional formula for people with gastrointestinal disorders. Rep. Christine Johnson (D-Salt Lake City) said she was near tears when she called Tammy Zundel to say a bill that could have helped the mother pay for her daughter's $1,500-a-month formula was not heard in the Senate before the session ended. Instead, Zundel – like others who can't afford the only source of nutrition for those with severe al-lergic reactions to food – will remain on Medicaid, which does provide coverage. She had to quit her job to become eligible, a consequence that shifts costs to taxpayers, Johnson notes. Johnson blames “anti-mandate, insurance-loving legislators” for the failure of HB 124. They balked at her bill even after it was watered down to say that insurance companies must simply offer the coverage for purchase. “I cannot fathom why we would put insurance companies before our own community needs,” John-son said Friday, a day after the legislative session ended. “That just makes me ill.” Sponsors of the failed bills say they plan to bring them back for debate next year. “I don't want lawmakers off the hook. They have not provided a solution,” said Leeann Whiffen, a Highland parent who pushed for SB 43, the autism bill. Sponsored by Republican Sen. Howard Ste-phenson, it also was watered down to a mandate that coverage be available for purchase, but was never heard in the House. Senate and House Republican leaders apparently didn't want the bills to imperil other efforts. “They did not want to put [healthcare reform] at risk by passing products or bills this year that would take us in the opposite direction,” said Rep. Roger Barrus (R-Centerville), the House sponsor of the autism bill. Instead, lawmakers passed HB 188, which would allow insurance companies to offer new plans that don't cover a handful of existing mandates, such as diabetes management. The goal is to reduce costs by eliminating mandates; each one increases the price of premiums by 1 percent, according to the health insurance industry. Rep. David Litvak (D-Salt Lake City) said he was assured his HB 89 will be studied over the sum-mer. It would have required insurance companies to cover prosthetics – artificial limb devices to replace arms or legs – at the same level provided by Medicare. It passed the House but never got a Senate vote. Litvak estimates the bill would have affected up to 7,000 Utahns who need the $12,000 to $60,000 devices. He was told insurance companies won't offer coverage because the pool of users is too small to make it worthwhile. In future reform efforts, Litvak said lawmakers must tackle the issue of helping insured Utahns get quality coverage. Having insurance "does not mean they have access to the type of care they need.” #
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