H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments

What this bill does

The bill would require the state to pay for medical care for people in state correctional custody at the Medicare rate, instead of the higher charge rates the University of Utah hospitals and clinics currently bill. It would create a restricted account where half of the resulting savings goes to future inmate medical needs and half goes to the general fund.

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Every vote

• 6 yes, 4 no, 4 absentHouse Health and Human Services Committee: vote, which it did not pass · Feb 12, 2026Who voted how
• 7 yes, 0 no, 7 absentHouse Health and Human Services Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 7 yes, 0 no, 7 absentHouse Health and Human Services Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 69 yes, 0 no, 6 absentFinal House vote · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
• 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 6, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 12, 2026 House Health and Human Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (61 turns)

  1. Committee chair1:14:26

     We'll move to our next agenda item, um, house Bill 3 21. Uh, Representative Fiefia, this is sub one.

  2. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:14:42

     Thank you Mr. Chair and committee members, uh, appreciate the opportunity to present this bill. Um, before I do, I'd like to give some context on, on how we got here. Um, I serve as the vice chair on Social Services appropriations alongside Representative Ward, who's our house chair and a few other members here. And we were tasked with a 5% cut, uh, around $80 million we had to find in savings. And as I dug into, uh, where we could potentially save, uh, this, uh, this opportunity came about. Now, this bill is pretty simple. When someone enters our correctional, uh, system, we're responsible for their medical care. Some come in healthy, others come in with ser serious medical needs. We don't get to choose. We have to provide care. Now, as you can imagine, this is hard to forecast people that are coming into the correctional facilities. Uh, it's hard for them to manage budgets not knowing what the medical needs will be. And so right now, um, the University of Utah hospitals and clinics can bill at a higher charge rates. This bill then states that the state will reimburse at the Unsu supplemented Medicaid base rate. We aren't cutting care, we aren't changing standards. We're simply setting a fair and consistent rate. Uh, one state entity should not be making money off another state entity. It should cover costs. That's it. Because in the end, taxpayers are the ones paying the bill. This bill also sets up a restricted account when savings happen, because when we pay the base rate, instead of the hire rate, 50% can be saved for future inmate medical needs, helping with forecasting, uh, um, medical needs as they come in the doors. And also the other 50% will go back to the general fund. Um, that's kind of where we found savings. Now, you were handed a sheet here. Uh, this is just one sample size of 12 high acuity patients. Now you can see the rates that, um, corrections paid, which was $470,487 to the U of U. Uh, the Medicaid equivalent would've been $50,000, uh, in excess of $400,000 that would've been saved if we were paying the Medicaid rate. And so this is pretty simple. Um, this is no new money appropriated. This is about fairness, transparency, and responsible budgeting. Um, and with that, I'm happy to take any questions.

  3. Committee chair1:17:07

     Thank you, Representative Fiefia. Any questions or discussion? Um, to the bill Representative Eliason,

  4. Rep. Steve Eliason1:17:19

     Uh, thank you. Th this is a complicated area. You say that they shouldn't be paying, uh, above cost. Um, I remember, uh, Representative Ward, uh, several years ago brought some patients into our caucus that were on Medicaid. It was on a different topic, but, um, he made the point that if all, uh, re if the entire payer mix was Medicaid, that he, in his practice, he wouldn't be able to keep the doors open. Um, so I'm just wondering if you can expand why, um, the current Medicaid rates are, uh, supposedly, um, at a higher profit margin. Just the comment you made earlier.

  5. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:18:05

     Sure. I'll, I'll go ahead and let you respond, but I, I think just initially my thought is this is, it's different from a private practice versus a state entity paying another state entity. And so I think if, if the UVU has different rates that would cover costs, I, I'm happy to review that. But from my understanding, this would cover the costs of what it would take to cover state held inmates, uh, to cover their medical costs without making money off of them. 'cause in the end, if they are making money, that's coming from the taxpayer, not from just another entity. And so that, that would be my first response. Any thoughts there?

  6. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:18:43

     Yeah. Chair, if I may, um, answer the representative's question. Yes. State Who You are. Also. I am Mark Wisner, director of Correctional Health Services, um, with the hospital rates, um, I know Representative Sen is, um, probably more versed in this than, than most, there are what's called supplemental payments. There are above and beyond, uh, Medicaid base rates. These supplemental payments, um, are, can be broken down into different categories, but largely what they do is they, they allow the hospital or induce the hospital to treat more Medicaid patients, um, through a, a, a way of not necessarily making more than, um, your commercial, uh, off the shelf insurance companies, but getting closer to those off the shelf commercial, uh, rates. And so, um, they're also very difficult to, um, see-through supplemental rec. Supplemental payments are specific to those institutions and don't have a lot of transparency. Uh, when you're trying to look at what, what something will cost, um, those, those payments are layered and hard to however, to decipher.

  7. Rep. Steve Eliason1:19:55

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one more question. Um, does this bill require that, uh, CHS contract with University of Utah?

  8. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:20:12

     Yeah, It, it does not, there's no contract in place. If there's no contract in place, it allows the University of Utah to charge the higher rate. This bill says that if there's not any contract in place, it allows them to pay the unsu supplemented Medicaid rate.

  9. Rep. Steve Eliason1:20:26

     Okay. So that, that, to clarify, I, I ask that because one risk would be that they, um, well, there would be no incentive to contract if they're statutorily going to have lower rates. Sorry, I'll re-say that. I assume that if there's no, there's no would be no incentive to contract because if there's no contract, they're going to, uh, CHS will be paying the lower rates, correct?

  10. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:20:52

      That's correct, yes.

  11. Rep. Steve Eliason1:20:54

      Okay. But they couldn't just drop the contract, could they?

  12. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:21:01

      Well, if there's no contract in place, I'm, I'm confused on what contract you're, you're referring to dropping Is, is there a contract in place now? My understanding is there Is a contract in place.

  13. Rep. Steve Eliason1:21:12

      Okay. So if CHS theoretically, if there's not a meeting, the mines on rates, then would this require that they accept continuing to accept patients from U-D-O-C-C-H-S at the lower rates?

  14. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:21:27

      That would be correct. Okay.

  15. Rep. Steve Eliason1:21:28

      So there would be no incentive to contract, I mean, from CHS aside, because you'll be guaranteed the lowest rates, correct?

  16. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:21:35

      That would be correct. Okay. Thank you.

  17. Committee chair1:21:38

      Alright, looks like we have a question from Representative Ward.

  18. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:21:43

      Thank you. May, maybe it's a, just a small question, but, so sometimes in caring for, um, patients from the correctional facility, there may be charges that are somewhat unique to the setting. So like having an extra guard in the room or extra staff that needs to be there. Who typically pays those for an inpatient? Does the U pay those or does CHS have someone there that covers that cost? Mr.

  19. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:22:10

      Chair, if I may answer that question. Uh, Representative Ward, uh, the university of, uh, sorry, excuse me. The Department of Corrections staffs, those security pieces, and that's who covers that.

  20. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:22:20

      Okay. So there's not an additional cost of the hospital because of that portion of the Complexity, not on the security pieces. Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion?

  21. Unknown committee member1:22:32speaker not certain

      I have a comment or maybe, maybe a question. I have a bill, um, that was addressing something similar to this where we were looking at facilities that are accepting Medicaid, providing care to inmates at the same rate of Medicaid, or they couldn't be a Medicaid provider just to try and cut some costs and things. Is there, is there a reason why, and and maybe you answered this already, that we're only looking at the U of U on this.

  22. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:23:04speaker not certain

      Do you wanna, If I may answer, uh, yes, Yes, please. Uh, no. Well, I think we could definitely expand the scope, um, as, as you are well aware, um, county jails, house inmates, um, if, if they have a significant health issue that could literally bankrupt, uh, a county budget if they're having to pay higher medical rates.

  23. Unknown committee member1:23:29speaker not certain

      Yeah. So a lot of, so where, where my idea or or thought process on this came from is because of rural county jails that are their housing inmates and the cost, potential cost. If there was a need, um, I've heard, and I, and I can't confirm this, I I I've just heard that there have been times where inmates have needed to be transferred for care that could have been provided locally, but was taken further to up, up north, basically because of people not will being willing to provide that care, but they're still taking Medicaid as, as a thing. So they're still getting state funds, but refusing to treat inmates kind of a thing. So, and maybe refusing is not the right word. Anyways, that's the thought process behind kind of where I was coming from on, on, on this idea that I, I think that there's an opportunity there to save and to correct some things. So those would probably be my comments.

  24. Committee chair1:24:23

      Is there any other comments to, to the bill from the committee? Representative Ward?

  25. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:24:29

      Sorry. Thank you for letting me have a second chance. So Dr. Wisner, just historically, has the correctional facility tried to contract with EU before? I mean, do, is this a current contract where we just, is this where we pay their full charge? Or is this just its own contract but the rates are so much higher? I mean, what's the nature of the relationship right now? And have we tried to do something different in the past?

  26. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:24:51

      Yes. If I may answer yes. Um, it's been an evolutionary, uh, process, um, over decades where, um, traditionally decades ago it was, uh, fee for service. And then I do believe it was under Governor Herbert, um, where they were asked to come to the table, uh, both corrections and the University of Utah and, and discuss, um, uh, fees and how they could, uh, lower those. Um, and now currently we do have a contract with the University of Utah, and we contract with them these, um, fees. PEHP was also involved in this process to help, uh, facilitate billing and, uh, monitor costs and negotiate rates with us as well. So there's been an ongoing evolutionary process to this, um, this

  27. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:25:36

      Event. Do these numbers, these, do we kind of benchmark off PEHP to say, well, I mean, the state has other contracts that have rates set for how much you pay for different admissions or, you know, different services. Is this, I mean, this just graph here is just so stark on here. Does that represent A-P-E-H-P rate for those same services? Or are I, that looks to me like it would be higher than even an insurance company rate. I mean, what, it just is odd to me that there would've been a negotiation and that we still would've landed on something much higher than any other insurance contract that we have in the state.

  28. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:26:10

      Yeah, I agreed. And, and there are a number of things at play. Um, you do remember not too long ago, uh, Medicaid rolled out Prism, um, it's update to billing and interaction with providers that was also going on at the same time where the, the initial no, uh, negotiations with the U were happening. So, uh, I do believe a compromise was settled where PEHP came in and, uh, became our third party administrator, um, as far as interactions with, with healthcare providers As far as administering the claims.

  29. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:26:42

      Correct. But did, were there rates also adopted for the contract, or was that a separate piece? That

  30. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:26:48

      Was a separate piece. Okay.

  31. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:26:49

      So just having him administer wouldn't necessarily change this number?

  32. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:26:52

      Correct. Okay.

  33. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:26:54

      I'm still not quite sure how we got to where we are today, but thank you.

  34. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:26:57speaker not certain

      Absolutely. Thank you.

  35. Committee chair1:27:00

      Not seeing any further discussion from the committee. We'll turn it to the public for public comment. Is there anyone that would like to speak to this bill in the public not seeing any? Do we have anyone online? Okay. So we will close public comment and return to the committee for discussion or action on the bill

  36. Committee chair1:27:20

      representative fit

  37. Unknown committee member1:27:23speaker not certain

      Question? Yeah. Um, please. Um, what's the barrier or what's, what's the issue with just contracting with another provider,

  38. Committee chair1:27:33speaker not certain

      If I may answer? Yeah, yeah, please.

  39. Mark Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services1:27:34

      There Is no barrier. Um, what we're looking for is having a sister, um, state agency, um, not necessarily as, as, um, well, like our, our friend, the representative, uh, FIA mentioned is making sure that there's transparency in fees and what we pay. We're on a fixed budget trying to, trying, CHS is on a fixed budget trying to, um, operate a healthcare organization that receives 20 to 60 new patients a week with varying healthcare issues, trying not to limit or severely limit services. So we can offer a wide range of services for those who are coming in incarcerated and can leave in a healthier manner and begin their lives. As we know, 90 over 90% of 'em are gonna return back to the community. Um, we have a, a very difficult dual role. One is a healthcare provider and the other one is a healthcare payer. So in essence, we are ensuring these inmates, uh, for their healthcare when they, um, receive care outside of our, outside of our facilities. Um, having this bill in place allows us to have a little more of a negotiation stance when it comes to, um, fees.

  40. Committee chair1:28:57

      Alright. Okay. Back to the committee for discussion or action.

  41. Committee chair1:29:15

      I'm not, okay. Representative Clancy.

  42. Rep. Clancy1:29:21

      Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, representative, do we need to adopt any substitutes on here?

  43. Unknown speaker1:29:27speaker not certain

      Um, There's a substitute, a first substitute there For, we, we have sub one that you're speaking to adopted already. Oh, It's already been adopted. It's already been adopted in rules. Yeah. Okay.

  44. Rep. Clancy1:29:39

      Um, I'll make a motion that we favorably recommend first substitute of this legislation out of this committee onto the full body.

  45. Committee chair1:29:45

      Okay. That motion is in order. We have a motion, um, to favorably recommend House Bill 3 21 sub one, um, discussion to the motion. I guess turn to the bill sponsor first. Right.

  46. Committee chair1:30:07

      No discussion. Okay. Representative Eliason,

  47. Rep. Steve Eliason1:30:10

      Uh, thank you. Uh, substitute motion. Okay. Uh, I'd like to make a motion to hold for further discussions. I, I'll tell you my, my fear is that Department of Corrections could lose their contract if these rates go down, because this is the state stepping in, in the middle of a contract discussion saying, this is what you shall pay versus what is negotiated. If there are other providers that are willing to provide it at a lower rate, um, or an equivalent rate, that's something that could certainly be accommodated in the, the, you know, negotiation space. But the last thing I think we'd wanna see happen is the Department of Corrections not have a viable partner, um, to serve these inmates. But I would Loa welcome further discussion with the sponsor about unintended consequences from the bill.

  48. Committee chair1:31:10

      All right. There is a substitute motion to hold, um, discussion to Representative Clancy on the substitute motion. Uh,

  49. Rep. Clancy1:31:21

      Thanks, Mr. Chair. I, I would more defer to the sponsor to see if he feels that there's opportunities to, um, uh, make a change. Or I'd like to hear the sponsor opinion on what, uh, my good colleague from Salt Lake County shared.

  50. Committee chair1:31:36

      We'll go to the, to representative. Yeah,

  51. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:31:38

      I, I think there's definitely opportunity to make changes to this bill. Um, I, I think as state lawmakers, we can have a state agency provide the services for another state agency. I think that that is well within our rights to do that. We can add that to this bill. Um, I, I think this is, this is savings that we should, should take. Uh, this money would go to other services that we are in dire need of. Um, and when you look at the full picture, this was just 12 high acuity patients. We're looking at overpaying around $5 million annually. So this isn't a small number that we're looking at. Now, if there's, if the University of Utah wants to come to the table and we would need, want to figure out what that number is to cover costs, I, I think we're open to that at this stage in the session. Anything that's held is dying. Uh, but this is real good savings. This is fiscal responsibility. This is an opportunity for us to do the right thing and making sure that each of our agencies are doing the right thing for each other and not doing it for themselves, only working in silos. And so that's what this bill really is about, is hoping that everyone comes to the table and us as the legislature holding everyone accountable to say, this is what's fair and this is what's reasonable. Let's be transparent and make sure that everyone is doing the right thing for the taxpayer and not for our individual organization.

  52. Committee chair1:33:02

      Okay. The, the motion is the, the substitute motion is to hold, um, to the committee for discussion. Not seeing anyone will place that motion. I'll what?

  53. Committee chair1:33:16

      Oh, to Representative Eliason to some, sorry. Oh,

  54. Rep. Steve Eliason1:33:18

      Yes. Uh, thank you.

  55. Rep. Steve Eliason1:33:20

      Um, I think that, um, I, I, I've obviously believe further discussions warranted this is a, a shift. It's not a state agency that is receiving direct taxpayer appropriations for, for this. And I would not wanna see the contract jeopardized if they, um, were to then say, okay, these rates, there are other payers that will step in. So those, those are my thoughts.

  56. Committee chair1:33:46

      Thank you. So we'll place the motion to the substitute motion to hold, um, will vote on that motion now.

  57. Committee chair1:33:56

      So all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. And those opposed say no. No. Raise your hand if you're, no. Okay. So that motion Pat, let's see.

  58. Committee chair1:34:25

      Representative Hall, did you

  59. Rep. Katy Hall1:34:33

      I was a, no.

  60. Committee chair1:34:39

      Okay. So that motion passes six to four and the no votes were Representative Hall Clancy, gracious and Ward I. Okay. We're good. Okay. So that the substitute motion passes to hold.

  61. Committee chair1:35:03

      So we will move to the next agenda item. Thank you, committee. Thank you. Um, next agenda is me. So we'll skip and go to Representative Loubet

• Feb 17, 2026 House Health and Human Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (23 turns)

  1. Vice Chair (presiding)34:25

     That is everyone. Um, we'll get going with our first bill this morning. We have, um, house Bill 3 21, representative fee fi feo.

  2. Rep. Doug Fiefia34:46

     Good morning everyone. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair and committee members. Um, appreciate you allowing us to be back on the agenda and to, to discuss this i, this important bill. Um, we are, are back, and the reason we're back is, uh, I'll be speaking to the second substitute. Um, we brought everyone to the table, both the University of Utah Corrections and PEHP and had a discussion and have reached a point that I think that everyone is, is comfortable with. And, and I think the, the plus side of this is that the taxpayer wins here. Just as a reminder, um, corrections takes in all of those who walk in their doors and have to, or are responsible for their medical care. Some come in healthy, some come in with major or serious medical needs. They don't get to choose. We as a state have to provide that care. And as you can imagine, that's hard to forecast and plan. And so the purpose of this bill is to help balance, uh, balance that out a little bit and bring in some, uh, reasonable rates that will help corrections, um, forecast and budget for the needs of their inmates. And so that's, that's the gist of it. We've come to a Blanding place where we've agreed on Medicare rates, which are transparent. They are found everywhere in the country. As changes happen, everyone is aware of it. And, uh, I just would like to thank our partners at the University of Utah for coming to the table and, and meeting us, um, to get to a good place. I do want to point out this bill was never to point anyone against each other. It was never to point or, or make anyone look bad. I think what we're trying to do is help our budget in all of our state entities, make them work, especially in a year where, um, we are looking for money and this was a way that we could save the state and also make sure that we're taking care of corrections and their budget needs. So with that, Mr. Chair, um, I'll yield my time.

  3. Vice Chair (presiding)37:03

     Awesome. Thank you. Is there any questions or discussion from the committee? Representative Monson?

  4. Rep. Logan Monson37:12

     Uh, uh, thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. Uh, representative, uh, yeah, I commend you for working on this. Um, I, I do have a, a a broader question because I think your bill is indicative of a larger issue that this committee has been working on for several years related to correctional health. Um, if, if it, if it's, uh, allowable, Mr. Chair, I'd like to ask, uh, the witness, Dr. Whiner, um, what the process is for the state to look at both the growth and the inflationary factors in the correctional health services budget. And if you are treated similar to how we treat Medicaid in terms of the consensus numbers. Mr. Chair, if I may? Yeah.

  5. Vice Chair (presiding)37:56speaker not certain

     Uh, thank you for asking that question. Representative Elison.

  6. Marcus Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services37:58

     Um, it, it would be a tremendous help. Obviously, I've, we're one of the major, um, stakeholders of downstream, um, effects of criminal justice bills that go through. Um, as representative fia FIA mentioned, we, um, we don't turn anyone away. And, uh, recent cases I could, I could give you a few examples of individuals who came in in severe, uh, need. And, um, our operations paid for that need and continues and continue to care for those individuals. Medical inflation costs, as you know, are, are rising and have been on the steady incline. Um, we continue to support, um, legislation by, by attaching our fiscal notes, uh, to these, uh, bills and making sure that, um, the impact is known. It was recently, um, divulged in the, um, I do believe, um, SSA committee that, um, our fiscal notes have not been passed along, and that is a tremendous concern to us.

  7. Rep. Logan Monson39:01

     Mr. Chair, if I may just Yes, please. So are, is correction correctional health services under DHHS treated the same way as we treat Medicaid, where annually growth and inflation are looked at and adjusted? Or is it stagnant, which can lead to some of the challenges you've been dealing with? If I may, uh, completely stagnant growth and inflation is not considered.

  8. Marcus Wisner, Director, Correctional Health Services39:26

     Why do you think that is? Well, in 2023 CHS was born, so I think that's part of it. It was split out from underneath corrections and given to, uh, department of Health and Human Services. Um, I, I, after beyond that, um, beyond submitting our fiscal notes and, uh, attaching, uh, growth numbers and, and communication and working collaboratively with the Department of Corrections to make sure we capture their growth, um, and their census growth in our fiscal notes, um, I couldn't answer that question. I don't know why our growth and in and inflation rates are not considered Seems like a big problem.

  9. Rep. Logan Monson40:08

     Thank you.

  10. Vice Chair (presiding)40:10

      All right. Any other discussion from the committee? I'm not seeing any. We'll now go to the public comment portion of the meeting. Is there anyone in the public that would like to speak to this bill? Not seeing anyone in the room. Anybody online? No. Okay. So we'll close public comment and return to the committee for discussion or action or chair hall.

  11. Chair Katy Hall40:36

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. Do we need to adopt the sub?

  12. Vice Chair (presiding)40:39

      We do, yes. All right. Motion to adopt is it first sub, Sub to second sub believe. Okay. Motion to adopt sub two of HB 3 21. That motion is in order. The motion is to adopt sub two on house bill 3 21, um, to the sponsor.

  13. Rep. Doug Fiefia40:59

      Yes. This just, uh, changes the Medicaid unsu supplemented base rate to Medicare. This was the Blanding point as we brought all the stakeholders to the table, uh, of where we, where we all agreed To move forward.

  14. Vice Chair (presiding)41:11

      And to the committee Representative Eliason.

  15. Rep. Steve Eliason41:14

      Oh, thank you. I was just looking. Is there an updated fiscal note for the second sub

  16. Unknown speaker41:19speaker not certain

      Has been submitted? Not Yet. Doesn't look like yet. Not yet, Okay. No. Okay. Thank you.

  17. Vice Chair (presiding)41:27

      Okay. Any, anybody else on the committee not seeing any Back to rep chair hall? Um, I'll wa Okay, so the motion is that we fa or is that we adopt sub two house bill 3 21. All in favor say aye. Aye. And any opposed? Say no. So that is unanimous.

  18. Vice Chair (presiding)41:44

      So back to chair hall,

  19. Chair Katy Hall41:46

      I'll make another motion. Motion to adopt, um, second substitute HB 3 21 Or favorably, Sorry. Motion to pass out favorably. Um, second substitute HB 3 21, um, for a house floor vote, The motion is in order. So the motion is that we favorably recommend house bill 3 21 as sub two, um, to the bill sponsor a waive to the committee, not anyone. Chair hall.

  20. Chair Katy Hall42:23

      Um, yeah, I just wanna thank the sponsor for actually for coming back doing the work, and this seems like a really good common sense place to be. And so I really appreciate that. Thank you.

  21. Vice Chair (presiding)42:34

      Thank you. See no other discussion. We'll place the motion to favorably recommend house Bill 3 21 sub to All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Say no. That is unanimous. Thank you.

  22. Vice Chair (presiding)42:47

      Thank you. Committee. Now I'll turn the meeting back over to Chair Hall.

  23. Chair Katy Hall42:56

      Okay, sounds good. Awesome. All right, we'll move to the second agenda item. I'm not seeing representative Liz b uh,

• Feb 23, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Unknown speaker1:08:10speaker not certain

     Second substitute house Bill 3 21. Inmate medical treatment rates, amendments by Representative Fiefia. This bill was heard in Health and Human Services with the vote. 7 0 7

  2. Speaker (presiding)1:08:22

     Representative Elisa.

  3. Rep. Joseph Elison1:08:24

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to circle. Motion is to circle, we'd like to speak to it.

  4. Speaker (presiding)1:08:30

     Sponsors not on the floor. Motion is to circle second sub house Bill 3 21. Discussion to the motion. Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say no. Motion carries. The bill is circled. Madam Reading Clerk

• Feb 25, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)1:26:32

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion encircle HB 3 21. That motion is in order. We'll go ahead and place the motion, the motion before us the house UNC encircle HB 3 21. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes the bills encircle and before the body for its consideration? Back to you, Representative Fiefia.

  2. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:26:49

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When someone enters our correctional system, um, the state becomes responsible for their medical care. Now, some walk in healthy, others come in with complex and serious health conditions. And we as a state must provide care in every case. Now, that makes costs difficult to forecast, um, with a fixed budget. And so just a few of the high acuity cases in a given year can significantly disrupt the Department of Corrections medical budget. Now, we sat down and worked with all stakeholders in agreed to use the Medicare rate as the reimbursement standard. Medicare is public, it's transparent and widely understood, and it gives corrections a predictable way to plan for medical costs instead of relying on estimates. Uh, this bill does not reduce care. It doesn't change medical standards. It instead, uh, simply sets a clear and consistent rate. Uh, while savings occur, the bill allows those dollars to be used more effectively. Half will be set aside for future inmate medical needs and half return to the general fund where it can be used to fund some of the critical social services, uh, priorities that we have. Um, no new money is appropriated. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to take any questions.

  3. Speaker (presiding)1:28:06

     Thank you, Representative Fiefia discussion to the bill Representative Ward.

  4. Rep. Ward Raymond1:28:12

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanna rise in support of this bill and the good work the sponsor has done. Um, it is a, a murky field to wade into when you go, go into medical finances and the various accountants who will come tell you that it must only be this way or everything will fall apart. Um, and it, and it was a long path to get to the bottom of it. Um, but at the bottom of it, this was a very good way forward. And the, there, just over the course of years, this rule plus that rule, minus this rule, plus this new rule had drifted to a place where we were overpay, overpaying for those services. Um, and this is a great way to give the inmates the care they need in a way that is fair to the state.

  5. Speaker (presiding)1:28:53

     Thank you. Thank you, Representative Ward. Further discussion to the bill. Seeing none back to your representative Fee. Fee for summation. Oh, waive summation has been waived. Voting will now be open on second substitute three 20, seeing all present having vote warnings now closed. Second substitute HB 3 21 passed this body. Six, nine yes votes zero, no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Representative Roberts.

• Mar 2, 2026 Senate Health and Human Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Committee chair (presiding)1:36:14

     Okay. Uh, Representative Fiefia house, bill 3 21 second. Substitute inmate medical treatment rates. Amendments. Welcome.

  2. Rep. Doug Fiefia1:36:24

     Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee. Uh, this bill is simple. It also has a positive fiscal note. And so, uh, not only is it a good bill, but we're saving the state some money. Um, when someone enters our correctional system, we're responsible. We're responsible for their medical care. Uh, some come in healthy and some come in with some serious, uh, medical needs. We don't get to choose. We have to provide care. As you can imagine, this makes it very hard for the Department of Corrections to forecast and plan for costs. Um, what we found was that even though, or I guess the, the most high acuity cases can completely disrupt their budget. And so what we did is we brought all the stakeholders to the table and, um, came up with a negotiated rate where we decided that the, the rate that corrections would pay for these procedures would be the Medicare rate. We are not cutting care, we're not changing standards. We're simply setting a fair and consistent rate. Uh, that corrections will then pay for these procedures. Um, this bill also creates a restricted account, uh, when savings happen because we pay, uh, the Medicare rate, 50% will go to future inmate medical needs. And another, the other 50% will go back into the general fund to provide, uh, other services that the state needs. And so with that, I am open to questions.

  3. Committee chair (presiding)1:37:48

     Okay. We'll bring, we'll bring it back to committee for any questions. Clarifying questions. See none. We will go to the public. Anyone in the public wish to speak to this? See none. We'll go ahead and bring it back to committee for further action. Senator Stratton?

  4. Sen. Keven J. Stratton1:38:07

     Yes, thank you. Chair. I will move Inmate medical treatment rates amendments with the favorable recommendation.

  5. Committee chair (presiding)1:38:15

     That's in order. Discussion to the motion. See none. We will back to, to the bill sponsor. I'll waive. Okay. Back to the maker motion. I'll waive. Okay. So all in favor of PA passing out, what is it? Second sub hb. Second sub HB 3 21. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That passes. Thank you. Committee. Alright,

• Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Rep. Doug Fiefia25:48

     some are healthier than others and, uh, some arrive with very serious medical needs. So we don't get to choose the costs, it becomes difficult to forecast. What we're doing here is we're setting the reimbursement benchmark at the Medicare rate. Uh, we work closely with the Corrections, university of Utah Health System and others. The goal is fairness and predictability and how one state entity reimburses another. Recognizing in the end, taxpayers are paying the bill. You'll also create restricted count when savings occur. Because the state pays a Medicare rate instead of a higher rate, 50% of those savings can be set aside for future inmate medical needs while 50% returns the general fund. This helps Department of Corrections better prepare for unexpected high costs on ensuring savings or return to taxpayers. Be glad to answer any questions.

  2. Presiding officer (Senate)26:47speaker not certain

     Thank you. Looking for discussion. Senator Stratton? I don't see discussion, so I'm going to you for a motion.

  3. Sen. Keven J. Stratton26:57

     Thank you. Motion. I'll, I'll waive somebody Motion as we pass. HB 3 21.

  4. Presiding officer (Senate)27:02

     Thank you. Appointment is under suspension of the rules Shall second substitute house bill three twenty one pass. Roll call vote.

  5. Senate clerk27:10

     Senator Vickers Baldy Lewin Brammer Bus Comore Escamilla Fillmore Grover Harper Kinins Ipson Johnson Wan McKay. Mikel Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Aye. Bickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Winterton. President Adams Aye. Second

  6. Presiding officer (Senate)27:58

     substitute house Bill 3 21. Having received 28 Yay votes. Second substitute. Second substitute house Bill 3 21 Having received 28 yay votes. Zero nay votes, one being absent passes his body will be signed by the President and returned to the house for the signature of the speaker.