Overview
STATE BUDGET
Utah’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in October. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in December. The legislature typically passes a budget in March. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. Utah is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The Utah State Legislature meets annually for a 45-day session, starting on the first Tuesday after the third Monday in January. There are 29 state senators serving four-year staggered terms. The 75 members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. Bills do not carry over from year to year.
KEY RESOURCES
- Utah Legislature
- Utah Office of the Attorney General
- Utah Insurance Department
- Utah All Payers Database
- Utah PricePoint System
- Information on Healthcare Policy in Utah
2025 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
In 2025, Utah passed legislation (HB 495) requiring insurers to pay claims within 30 days or provide a written explanation for a denial, submit their explanation for payment, and establish appeal and claim dispute processes. The new law also requires insurers to include reasoning for any downcoding or bundling.
Utah Laws
Utah Code § 26-18-11. Rural hospitals: Medical Assistance Act – Utah
Introduced: Status: Enacted
For purposes of the Medicaid program, the Division of Medicaid and Health Financing may not discriminate among rural hospitals on the basis of size.
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Utah Code § 26-18-13. Telemedicine — Reimbursement — Rulemaking: Medical Assistance Act – Utah
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The reimbursement rates for telemedicine services provided by any managed care organization contracting with the state’s medical assistance program are as follows.
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Utah Code § 26-18-13.5. Mental health telehealth services — Reimbursement — Reporting — Telepsychiatric consultations: Medical Assistance Act – Utah
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Reimbursement provisions applyng to mental health telehealth services covered by managed care organizations in contract with the state’s Medicaid program.
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Utah Code § 26-18-16. Medicaid — Continuous eligibility — Promoting payment and delivery reform: Medical Assistance Act – Utah
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Section outlines considerations for the department when amending the state Medicaid plan.
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Utah Code § 26-18-18. Optional Medicaid expansion: Medical Assistance Act – Utah
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The department and governor may not expand Medicaid under the PPACA unless the following circumstances apply.
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