UHPP's Monthly Update August 2019

August 27, 2019

August 2019 Updates

An Interesting Health Reform Task Force...

Utah is Spending 2.5M every month extra to on Expand Medicaid

Last week during Health Reform Task Force, the Medicaid Director was questioned on how much the state is paying for it's partial Medicaid expansion because the state has not yet expanded Medicaid fully. He reported roughly 2.5M per month. UHPP continues to advocate for full Medicaid expansion which offers the best available financial deal to Utahns at this time.

There's Still Time To Comment on SB96's Harmful Medicaid Waivers - Submit Your Comment HERE

Hispanic Heritage Parade on September 21st!

Take Care Utah is preparing for its 4 ^th annual Hispanic Heritage Parade on Saturday, September 21 at The Gateway, from 11am-9pm. This event serves two purposes; 1) to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and 2) To raise awareness of Utah’s highest in the nation uninsured rate for Hispanic kids. Take Care Utah Health Access Assisters will be available as a resource for FREE help.

The Office of Health Disparities at the Department of Health Updates the Governor

After a request from the legislature, the Utah Department of Health Office of Health Disparities published a report on the status of health disparities by legislative district in Utah earlier this year. This report illustrates an unfortunate reality for many Utahns: health can be a very different experience based on where you live.

72% of Senate districts and 52% of House districts have health disparities in life expectancy at birth, the most prevalent health disparity in Utah.

45% of Senate districts and almost 1/3 of House districts experience health disparities in: health care coverage, adults reporting current smoking, and adult obesity.

Roughly 25% of both Senate and House districts experience a health disparity in: drug poisoning deaths, poor or fair general health, suicide, poor mental health, diabetes, and infant mortality.

Read the top line message of the report here.