Gov. Mike Leavitt has named a dozen members of the Health Policy Commission to chart the course of his "HealthPrint" for reform of care and coverage in Utah.
The 1994 Legislature adopted the first phase of Leavitt's seven-year plan to create a "market-driven" system that would make affordable coverage available to all Utahns.Lawmakers appropriated $450,000 to establish the commission, which will study health system issues and make rec-om-men-da-tions to the Legislature as the years go by. Leavitt, a former insurance executive, will serve as chairman.
The members include Rod Betit, executive director of the Utah Department of Health, and state Reps. Mary Carlson, D-Salt Lake, Byron Harward, R-Provo, and Brent Haymond, R-Springville.
The Utah Senate will be represented by Sens. George Mantes, D-Tooele, John Holmgren, R-Bear River City, and David Watson, R-St. George.
The others are Lourdes Cook, Salt Lake; Roberta Herzberg, Logan; Allan Lipman, Ogden; Richard Shipley, Farmington, and Pamela Turner, Morgan.
Leavitt also appointed 53 people to serve on six working groups to tackle subjects ranging from insurance reform to evaluating and improving the quality of health care in Utah.