Utah
Oct. 27, 2024 by Joe Jarvis, M.D.
State-based SP organizations
Utah Cares https://utahcares.vote/
The American Health Security Project https://americanhealthsecurityproject.org
Commonsense Health Care for Utah https://commonsensehealthcareutah.org
State-based SP bills:
none
Rather than seek a legislative strategy, American Health Security Project (AHSP) seeks to place a citizens’ initiative on Utah’s ballot in 2026x. The ballot will enact a law that will create a publicly funded, not for profit health trust, a centrally managed financier of privately delivered health care services.
The goal of the AHSP is the creation of a comprehensive system of health care that is non-profit and publicly funded. It should include essential benefits such as dental, vision, audiology, and mental health services, be universal, and must remove all financial barriers from seeking care.
Obstacles to SP in the current context
Healthcare advocates have been at a disadvantage. For-profit insurers and pharmaceutical companies have the ability through Super PACs to pour millions into fighting against Medicare for All and State-Based universal healthcare bills. It is overdue that we level the playing field and create a super PAC for M4A. However, efforts to raise the estimated $250,000 needed to start such a PAC have thus far fallen short.
Advantages for SP in the current context
Goals for SP movement in UT 2025-26
Utah Cares Political Issues Committee, is actively creating the ballot question and writing the bill it will mandate. It will include universal coverage, a full range of essential benefits including dental, vision, audiology, and mental health services allowing free choice of doctor and hospital; It will prioritize cost savings for the system and fair financing for patients in that it will remove all financial barriers to care at the point of service. Governance will be transparent and accountable.
ASHP is taking their message to all corners of the state–to conferences, festivals, cottage meetings and events. They are building a campaign to help shape the movement and connect to national groups who might fund their work.
Team members are soliciting personal stories for a library of videotaped “health stories.” https://commonsensehealthcareutah.org/your-stories/
Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join (or donate to) a group?
americanhealthsecurityproject.org/
Info@commonsensehealthcareutah.org
(801) 810-5007 (Ogden, UT)
Watch the movie, “Healing US”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oovXwK0vaGM