Lawmaker on Health Care Task Force: "In Over My Head"

None by KCPW

State Legislator Calls for Broad Health Industry Investigation

(KCPW News) State Senator Michael Waddoups says he's in over his head as chair of the legislature's Privately-Owned Health Care task force. He's calling on state and federal agencies to investigate the business practices of the insurance industry and hospital systems in Utah and the U.S.

The task force was initially created over concerns that Intermountain Healthcare unfairly monopolizes the Utah market. Waddoups says after a year of study, he's realized IHC is only a part of the larger problem if health care that is too expensive for thousands of Utahns.

Waddoups is sending formal investigation requests to Congress, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and Health and Human Services. He's also spoken with the Utah Attorney General. Intermountain Healthcare CEO Bill Nelson says it's silly for Waddoups to quote "trash the task force that he initiated" even before receiving a 300-thousand-dollar consultant's report commissioned by the legislature. That report is due out next Friday. Waddoups says he will not disband the Privately-Owned Health Care task force.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW