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Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
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by Scott McCoy for Utah Senate District 2
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Utah Health Care Task Force:
Time to Focus on Bigger Issues?
By LaVarr Webb
(Mr. Webb does consulting work for Intermountain Healthcare. This advocacy article represents his own opinion.)
The Legislature’s Privately Owned Health Care Task Force has been meeting for more than a year now and excellent progress has been made in understanding Utah’s health care industry, including the competitive climate. Another meeting is scheduled today at 9 a.m. in W135.
Some key legislators, including Sen. Michael Waddoups, who co-chairs the Task Force, appear to have interest in broadening the scope of the Task Force inquiry to focus on vital health care issues like escalating costs and the problem of the uninsured. To me, that makes a great deal of sense as the Task Force considers its workplan for this year.
The Task Force was convened to investigate health care competition in Utah. The focus has been specifically on Intermountain Healthcare and whether its integrated system is too big, whether it stifles competition, and whether it should even be broken into smaller pieces.
Those issues seem to have been more than adequately resolved. The Task Force has spent many hours scrutinizing those questions, and no evidence has turned up indicating that Utah health care consumers would be better served by forcing Intermountain Healthcare to make dramatic changes. In all the data and information collected and even in the testimony of competitors, no serious recommendations have emerged to do things differently.
In fact, the more Intermountain has been scrutinized, the better it looks. Two completely independent studies, one of them commissioned by the Task Force, confirm that IHC competes properly and fairly and, in fact, helps hold down costs so that Utah consumers receive high quality health care at reasonable prices.
The nation’s top health care experts view Intermountain’s vertically integrated system as an enormous asset and benefit to Utahns, not as a problem. The consultant hired by the Legislature said it would be a big mistake for lawmakers to intervene in Utah’s health care markets and force changes. Utah’s health industry is highly competitive, is cost-efficient, and produces top-quality health care.
An unrelated nationwide study by the highly respected Dr. John E. Wennberg, editor of The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, held up the Salt Lake area as a model for the nation in health care delivery. Wennberg said national spending on Medicare would be 32% lower for inpatient care and 36% lower for physician visits, with no reduction in quality, if the entire nation delivered healthcare the way it’s delivered in the greater Salt Lake area.
Given this overwhelming evidence that the health care industry is fair and competitive in Utah, it’s no wonder that the KSL Radio/TV editorial board on Wednesday suggested that Intermountain “doesn’t deserve to be in the crosshairs of the Utah Legislature.” The editorial added: “Nationally, of course, the health care system is broken and needs fixing. No doubt about it! But, within the context of that national system, Utahns have it pretty good. In KSL's view, Intermountain Health Care deserves credit, not condemnation, for the way things are.”
Clearly, the Task Force’s single-minded obsession with Intermountain Healthcare is taking up a lot of time that could now be much better focused elsewhere. Certainly, the state and nation face plenty of health care problems that the Task Force could address. The Legislature, for example, ought to be looking at the Massachusetts health care model. It ought to be considering how to resolve the growing number of uninsured individuals and families. It ought to focus on how to keep Medicaid costs from skyrocketing.
These are big national issues, but I’m betting that the Task Force, working collaboratively and creatively with the entire Utah health care community, could make some improvements. We’re as smart as our counterparts in Massachusetts, who have succeeded in taking some innovative steps.
I’ve heard Sen. Waddoups say that it’s time to focus on some of those bigger issues that could really make a difference.
Intermountain Healthcare has been thoroughly and adequately scrutinized and investigated. It would be a sad waste of valuable time for the Task Force to remain bogged down on matters that have been resolved when much bigger issues need to be resolved. |
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News Highlights
Contentious special session fixes transportation funding and diverts $15 million for parking garage at the Capitol, but produces nothing for Medicaid patients hoping for $2 million for dental care (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).
Editorials criticize Mexican Pres. Vicente Fox for refusing to field questions from the media during his Utah visit (Morning News, Daily Herald, and St. George Spectrum).
LDS Church rebuts comments by CNN’s Lou Dobbs about the church encouraging Mexican immigration (Morning News). |
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Quote of the Day Quote of the Day
“He tells his children he doesn't mind working hard. It's for them. It all started when he took a chance by crossing the border those many years ago. And in its best reciprocity, this great country took a chance on him, too.”
-- Columnist Holly Mullen tells the story of immigrant and burrito baron Manuel Acosta (Tribune).
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Thursday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates
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Stock Market is Moody
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold's weekly Tea Leaves newsletter focuses on economic strength in the western states, the real estate shift, tight labor markets, and the moody stock market.
National Politics
Romney 2nd in GOP Ranking
In NationalJournal.com’s 2008 presidential race rankings, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is No. 2, behind Arizona Sen. John McCain. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton tops the Democratic list.
Last Chance for a lot of Dems
In a NationalJournal.com column, Chuck Todd tells why 2008 is the last hurrah for numerous Democratic presidential candidates.
Blog Watch
At the House Majority blog, over 30 representatives attach their names to a "request that [Gov. Huntsman] support and work with the Legislature to promptly enact income tax relief for Utah’s citizens" (see also here)... Rep. Jeff Alexander says: "Last week the media reported that UTA has a unique plan to help Utah County with their transportation woes. It is about time"... Rural Blogging issues a challenge to Utah environmentalists... Two Guys from Quantico says there's more to Rep. Chris Cannon than just the immigration issue and "Utah would be well served to keep him in office"... COL Takashi describes how Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt Romney should present his Mormonism to the masses... Mormon On Politics says of Pres. Vicente Fox's visit to Utah: "Despite being our neighbor, there is nothing redeeming about Mexican politics. We should be offended by this man who comes here denigrating our demands for strong border security. The corruption and problems he oversees in his country are why we need strong border security including a fence" (see also here, here, and here)... Out of Context is really humming, with several interesting posts on a variety of subjects; just go read it.
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Bennett: Detainees are Harry Potter Fans
Sen. Bob Bennett gives the U.S. detainment center at Guantanamo Bay a glowing assessment, citing "the availability of soccer fields and volleyball courts, a well-stocked library whose most popular offering is reportedly the Harry Potter series, and an abundance of what he characterized as delicious food" (Merced Sun-Star).
Matheson: No to $$ for N-Waste
Rep. Jim Matheson says the inclusion of $30 million for consideration of temporary storage of high level nuclear waste in HR 5427, the annual Energy and Water spending bill, "is a step in the wrong direction" (see press release); Matheson says a variety of rural development projects in Utah are favorably cited in this year's Agriculture Appropriations bill, which passed the House Tuesday night (press release); Matheson's congressional website posts a 27-minute video clip of Matheson's "Capitol View" cable show.
EPA: BYU, U. of U., USU Good for Commuters
The Environmental Protection Agency names Brigham Young University, University of Utah and Utah State to its list of Best Workplaces for Commuters among colleges and universities; the list "recognizes employers who offer outstanding commuter benefits for their employees, such as transit subsidies, rideshare and carpool matching services, preferred parking and reduced parkings costs for carpools and vanpools, secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers, compressed work schedules, lunchtime shuttle service, etc." (see press release and Tribune story).
Local Watch
ULCT May Legislative Update
The Utah League of Cities and Towns has posted a May legislative update. To read it, click here.
CPPA Policy Brief
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has released a PDF file of their latest Policy Brief, Concurrent Enrollment: Funding in Utah, which "examines the funding mechanisms that support dual enrollment programs in Utah and provides some comparison with other states."
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of Utah Policy.com
Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Luci Hollingshead
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Thursday
May 25, 2006
Utah in the National News
The Fox Visit
Colorado pols and business leaders wonder why Mexican Pres. Vicente Fox is not visiting Colorado, "despite [its] being home to one of Mexico's oldest consulates, having more than three times the number of Mexican residents than [Utah], and having a burgeoning trade partnership with Mexico of more than $1.4 billion just last year. By comparison, Utah did about $350 million last year in trade with Mexico and is home to about 200,000 Mexicans, while Colorado has 700,000" (Denver Post); Fox gets "an ebullient welcome from [Utah's] political elite" at a speech in West Valley, with Atty. Gen. Mark Shurtleff choking up as he praised Mexican traditions in fluent Spanish: "It's a culture that shows the importance of family, in which parents teach and care for children," Shurtleff said to cheers. "It's a culture that teaches by example the importance of labor and work. These are values that, unfortunately, we are losing here in my country" (Los Angeles Times); Sen. Curtis Bramble says his views on immigration have been altered by his discussions with Fox and other Mexican officials during this week's visit: "I have a better understanding now of the position of the Mexican government. Before this trip, the perception was that they were unconcerned about the immigration problem. But now I see they want to work together with us" (Washington Post).
Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney makes an unannounced goodwill and fact-finding trip to Iraq that could "burnish his foreign policy credentials should he run for president in 2008" (Boston Globe).
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Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
- Dental aid bill takes back seat to parking
- Fox wants 'orderly' border
- Three generations protest Fox, immigrants
- Voices: Reactions to Fox's speech
- Mullen: Behind Fox's visit lies real story -- working people, good people
- Ogden forest travel plan draws protests
- Town lives with fear of a cancer epidemic
- Bush backs Hatch's flag measure
- Grand County lets Woodside go after six months as administrator
- Science scores steady in Utah
- Those big school buses could make your kid sick
- Safavian's obstructing justice trial begins
- Fraud pretrial releases downplay al-Qaida link
- House approves funds for nuke storage -- not necessarily in Utah
- Power, energy routes won't use Utah parks, monuments
- EPA names USU as a best workplace for commuters
- School trust lands exchange impresses
- South S.L. Council weighs views on proposed tax hike
- Wal-Mart refutes banking criticisms
- Bill would crack down on illegal 'naked short selling'
- Editorial: Land of opportunity: To slow immigration, build up Mexico
Standard-Examiner
- Mexico's Fox talks business
- Editorial: Brigham City's court case
St. George Spectrum
- Officials get petition opposing bomb test
- Fox addresses issues in speech to legislature
- Cedar Council approves tentative budget
- County defends for growth act
- Op-ed: Washington Co. Growth Plan process was more than fair
- Editorial: Fox brought wrong pants
City Weekly
- Hits & Misses
- God's Own Party: The Constitution Party has deity on its side -- but it may have a hard time getting on the ballot
- The Woman Inside: The story of the Sandy City Councilman formerly known as Prince
- Editorial: Ego feeder
Daily Herald
- School paper accused of advocating homosexuality
- UTOPIA still working hard to iron out kinks
- Alpine council initiates moratorium
- Forbes addresses globalization trend
- Editorial: Fox weaseled out of dialogue
KCPW
- Mexican President Vicente Fox address Utah lawmakers
- President Fox greeted by protestors at the Utah Capitol
- Fox touts his economic success
- Howard Dean's 50-state strategy under fire
KSL Editorial Board
- Health care in Utah
Park Record
- City Councilor takes on colon cancer
- Editorial: Mexican president could offer insight on immigration debate
Deseret Morning News
- Dental funding sidestepped
- Fox: 'We are partners'
- No-questions policy draws ire of media
- Church denies it lures members from Mexico
- 70 protesters shout for Fox to 'go home'
- Quotable Fox
- Utah holds out as tide of gambling rises in U.S.
- Monticello demands answers on uranium
- Utah earns 'D' on report for school bus pollution
- Prostate group gives Utah a D-
- Test blast protested
- Proposed S.L. cutbacks irk golf course workers
- Utah ranks high on science tests
- Programs could use boost, award winners say
- School paper is accused of breaking law
- House OKs funds for temporary nuclear storage
- Senate expected to pass sweeping bill
- District debate hits county
- W. Jordan road plan spurs lawsuit threat
- City caps home growth
- Sheriff's election signs stolen
- Forbes predicts crisis over Iran
- Editorial: What we wanted to ask Fox |
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- May 25: 3rd Annual Veterans Golf Tournament, 9 a.m., Hubbard Golf Course Hill Air Force Base. Event raises funds for veterans programs including stand down for homeless veterans, scholarships for veteran students and support to veterans in distress. For details call the Utah Division of Veterans Affairs 801-326-2372 or 800-894-9497.
- May 25: Privately Owned Healthcare Organization Task Force, 9 a.m., room W135.
- May 25: Gov. Huntsman KUED Monthly News Conference, 10 a.m., KUED Studios.
- May 25: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features Robert Lang, Director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech, with his ideas on what downtown Salt Lake City should like in the coming decades; plus Judi Hilman, Utah Health Policy Project, on dental and vision Medicaid funding; and Utah Senate President John Valentine with a Special Session recap.
- May 25: Gov. Huntsman on KSL's "Let Me Speak to the Governor," 6 p.m., KSL Studios.
- May 25: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- May 26: Gov. Huntsman to give Commencement Speech at Neumont University, 1 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 1387 West Broadway, Salt Lake City.
- May 26: Democrat Nomination Party for Christian Burridge, 6 p.m., 11507 South Kestrel Rise Road, South Jordan. All invited to attend. Contact Jeff at 801-687-3463 with questions.
- May 27: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium.
- May 29: Memorial Day Program, 2 p.m., Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park 17111 South Camp Williams Rd, Bluffdale (immediately south of Camp Williams).
- May 30: Pete Ashdown Reception, 6 p.m., Salt Lake Country Club, 2400 Country Club Dr.; hosted by Steven Bamberger and Vasilios Priskos.
- May 31: Planning and Zoning Seminar in Provo, repeated three times at 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., Tahitian Noni Headquarters Auditorium, 5151 North 300 West, Provo. This is a free three hour presentation by the Property Rights Ombudsman on land use regulation and changes by the 2006 legislature. Continuing Education credit for professionals available. Call 801-731-5399 for more information.
- May 31: Education Forum to release the new Envision Utah toolbox -“Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions,” 9 to 11 a.m., Wells Fargo Building (23rd Floor) Downtown. The cost of the education forum is $50 which includes admittance to the forum, a continental breakfast, and all toolbox materials. To reserve your spot please RSVP to Mary Davies at mdavies@cuf-envision.org, or 801-303-1459.
- May 31: Special Districts Subcommittee of the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 9 a.m., room W125.
- May 31: Envision Utah forum on Brownfield Redevelopment in Salt Lake City, 9 a.m., 23rd floor of the Wells Fargo Building, 299 South Main Street. $50 registration fee includes new toolbox. Must pre-register at 801-303-1462 or kfayles@cuf-envision.org by Friday, May 26th.
- May 31: Pete Ashdown to speak at the Holladay Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Cottonwood Country Club, 1780 East Lakewood Drive (5420 South).
- May 31: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend Jordan Valley Water Plant Open House, 2 p.m., Bingham Canyon Water Treatment Plant, 8000 West Old Bingham Highway (10200 South), West Jordan.
- May 31: Washington County Republican Party Special Central Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., County Administration Building, St. George. The meeting is to determine names that will be submitted to the County Commissioners for an interim County Treasurer due to the resignation of Linda Larsen. |
- See the entire calendar
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