In a bid to enhance the healthcare system in Utah, a collaborative effort has been launched. The group aims to investigate the factors that are causing healthcare costs to rise and spending to increase. Dr. Sri Bose, the director of research at One Utah Health Collaborative, highlighted the concerning trend of health care spending taking up a larger portion of state, employer, and family budgets. Over a five-year period from 2017 to 2022, the average employee contribution for a premium family plan in Utah surged by 35%, surpassing the 25% increase in average wages during the same timeframe.
To ensure sustainability and affordability of healthcare in Utah, it is crucial for key leaders to track spending and its fluctuations. The One Utah Health Collaborative was established by Governor Spencer Cox in 2022 as a nonprofit organization with a 15-year mission to enhance Utah’s healthcare through collaboration and innovation. A Technical Advisory Group comprising nine major insurers has been formed by the collaborative, with members representing over 95% of Utah’s population with health insurance.
The advisory group will collect data and analyze total health care spending in Utah along with associated trends. Jaime Wissler, the executive director of the collaborative, emphasized that understanding the rate of healthcare spending growth and identifying factors behind cost increases is essential for achieving affordable and accessible healthcare that enhances overall quality of life. Data collection is scheduled for spring and summer, with a report anticipated to be released in 2024. Participating insurance companies include Aetna, Cigna, Molina Healthcare of Utah, Public Employment Health Plan (PEHP), Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Select Health, UnitedHealthcare, University of Utah Medicaid