Guest opinion: The Utah legislature just gave a major win to Utah patients and healthcare providers
by Dr. Steven C. Meek
As an executive with Tanner Clinic â a physician-owned organization healthcare company thatâs been serving Utah families for decades â Iâve seen firsthand how healthcare has changed in recent years. Costs are rising, good providers are burning out, recruiting has become increasingly difficult, and the pressure on local clinics to keep up with technology while keeping costs low continues to grow. Too often, itâs our patients and frontline healthcare workers who feel this the most.
Thatâs why Iâm grateful to Representative Katy Hall and Senator Scott Sandall for sponsoring HB503. Prior to this reform, 50% of all doctors over the age of 45 were contemplating early retirement. This bill will help bring balance back to Utah by limiting costs on the system and reining in factors that contribute to physician burnout and well-being.
In recent years, clinics like ours have seen significant medical liability insurance rates increase due to large verdicts or settlements in the state. These large awards have been inflated by fictional costs â so-called âphantom damages.â These numbers donât reflect the actual cost of care or what was paid. However, they have been used to demand massive payouts, raising the cost of insurance and, therefore, raising the cost of care for our patients. These lawsuits are on the rise; 90% of all orthopedic surgeons have been sued, and 83% of all OB-GYN and general surgeons have been sued. These suits contribute to provider burnout and fatigue. HB503 strikes a balance for providers and patients....
On behalf of the hundreds of doctors, nurses, and clinic staff I work with â and the patients we serve â I want to thank Rep. Hall and Sen. Sandall, Speaker Schultz and Senate President Adams for having the courage to stand up for real reform. (Read More)
News Releases
Salt Lake Chamber and EDCUtah announce new EDCUtah leadership
The Salt Lake Chamber and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) are pleased to announce Ryan Starks as the new Executive Director of EDCUtah.
Previously serving as the executive director of the Governorâs Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), Ryan was instrumental in its growth. His leadership helped achieve historic wins, including Texas Instrumentsâ $11 billion investment, helping bring over 13,000 high-paying jobs to Utah and $16 billion in capital to Utah, and more. (Read More)
Utah international trade report
Utahâs international trade sector continued to be a powerful driver of the stateâs economy in 2024, with $18.2 billion in goods exports supporting 70,171 jobs, according to a new report released today by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report details the significant contributions of exports to Utahâs economy, including nearly $8.0 billion to the stateâs gross domestic product (GDP) and $15.9 billion to the stateâs gross output. (Read More)
Utah consumer sentiment, April 2025
Utahâs consumer sentiment fell slightly in April (down 1.4%), from 81.1 in March to 80.0, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan measured a significantly steeper decline (8.4%) in sentiment among Americans as a whole.While four of the five questions comprising the state index showed little movement this month, the question gauging expectations for business conditions in the near future declined 8.6%. U.S. consumer sentiment, as measured by the University of Michigan, has declined 29.5% since December, while Utahâs consumer sentiment has declined 12.3% since then. (Read More)
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