A comprehensive initiative aimed at improving the health care system in Utah has been announced, focusing on studying the factors that increase spending and its impact on budgets. Dr. Sri Bose, director of research for the One Utah Health Collaborative, highlighted the rapid rise in health care spending, which has consumed a larger portion of state, employer and family budgets.
Over the past five years, employee contributions for a premium family health care plan in Utah have increased by 35%, outpacing the average wage increase of 25% in the same period. Bose emphasized the need to measure spending and its trends to establish a sustainable and affordable health care system that benefits all stakeholders in Utah.
The One Utah Health Collaborative was established in 2022 by Governor Spencer Cox as a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing Utah’s healthcare landscape through a 15-year initiative. The collaborative aims to leverage insights from key leaders and innovative strategies to develop an optimal model of health care in Utah.
To achieve this goal, the collaborative formed a Technical Advisory Group comprising nine major insurers. These insurers will provide data and estimates related to total health care spending in Utah as well as trends shaping the industry. The members of the advisory group represent over 95% of Utahns with health insurance, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the data.
Jaime Wissler, executive director of the collaborative, underscored the importance of understanding growth rates and cost drivers behind health care spending. By analyzing this data, Wissler believes that it will work collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve its mission of providing affordable and accessible healthcare that improves overall quality of life for all Utahn residents.
The insurance companies participating in this technical advisory group include Aetna, Cigna, Molina Healthcare of Utah, Public Employment Health Plan (PEHP), Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Select Health, UnitedHealthcare, University Medicaid and University Of Utah Health Plans.
Data collection will take place during spring and summer with an expected report release date set for 2024.
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