A new initiative aimed at improving healthcare in Utah has announced plans to investigate the factors behind rising healthcare costs and increasing spending. Dr. Sri Bose, director of research at One Utah Health Collaborative, highlighted the growing concern of healthcare spending taking up a larger portion of state, employer, and family budgets. Over the past five years from 2017 to 2022, the average employee contribution for a premium family plan in Utah increased by 35%, outpacing the 25% increase in average wages during the same timeframe.
To ensure the sustainability and affordability of the healthcare system, it is crucial for employers, families, and the economy to track spending and its fluctuations. The One Utah Health Collaborative was established in 2022 by Governor Spencer Cox as a nonprofit organization with a mission to enhance Utah’s healthcare through collaboration and innovation. The collaborative will work alongside key leaders to develop an ideal healthcare system that benefits all stakeholders.
A Technical Advisory Group has been formed comprising nine major insurers to collect data and analyze total health care spending in Utah along with associated trends. Members of the advisory group represent over 95% of Utah’s population with health insurance. Jaime Wissler, executive director of the collaborative emphasized that understanding the rate of healthcare spending growth and identifying factors behind cost increases is critical for achieving affordable and accessible healthcare that enhances overall quality of life.
The participating insurance companies in the technical advisory group include Aetna, Cigna, Molina Healthcare of Utah, Public Employment Health Plan (PEHP), Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Select Health, UnitedHealthcare, Utah Medicaid, and University of Utah Health Plans. Data collection is scheduled for spring and summer with a report expected to be released in 2024.
Overall this collaborative effort aims to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare without breaking