Consumer-focused health care delivery and payment reform demonstration project

(1) The Legislature finds that: (a) current health care delivery and payment systems do not provide system wide incentives for the competitive delivery and pricing of health care services to consumers; (b) there is a compelling state interest to encourage consumers to seek high quality, low cost care and educate themselves about health care options; (c) some health care providers and health care payers have developed consumer-focused ideas for health care delivery and payment system reform, but lack the critical number of patient lives and payer involvement to accomplish system-wide consumer-focused reform; and (d) there is a compelling state interest to encourage as many health care providers and health care payers to join together and coordinate efforts at consumer-focused health care delivery and payment reform that would provide to consumers enrolled in a high-deductible health plan: (i) greater choice in health care options; (ii) improved services through competition; and (iii) more affordable options for care. (2) (a) The department shall meet with health care providers and health care payers for the purpose of coordinating a demonstration project for consumer-based health care delivery and payment reform. (b) Participation in the coordination efforts is voluntary, but encouraged. (3) The department, in order to facilitate the coordination of a demonstration project for consumer-based health care delivery and payment reform, shall convene and consult with pertinent entities including: (a) the Utah Insurance Department; (b) the Office of Consumer Services; (c) the Utah Medical Association; (d) the Utah Hospital Association; and (e) neutral, non-biased third parties with an established record for broad based, multi-provider and multi-payer quality assurance efforts and data collection. (4) The department shall supervise the efforts by entities under Subsection (3) regarding: (a) applying for and obtaining grant funding and other financial assistance that may be available for demonstrating consumer-based improvements to health care delivery and payment; (b) obtaining and analyzing information and data related to current health system utilization and costs to consumers; and (c) consulting with those health care providers and health care payers who elect to participate in the consumer-based health delivery and payment demonstration project.