(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.