All Roll Calls
Yes: 166 • No: 1
UtahS.B. 3192026 General SessionSenateWALLET
Health Insurance Preauthorization Amendments
Sponsored By: John D. Johnson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Health InsuranceInsuranceInsurance DepartmentBusinessHealth and Human ServicesHealth Benefits and ClaimsCommercial Health Insurance\Managed Care Contracts
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Insurers must pay for approved care
Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must pay contracted providers for approved services under the plan’s terms. Payment is not required if the provider is no longer contracted on the service date or misses filing deadlines. Another exception covers billed codes or services outside the approval request that would have been denied. Payment is also not required if the service is no longer covered or the patient is no longer eligible on the service date. The rule also excludes claims for which the insurer has no liability; it does not remove plan cost sharing.
Longer care approvals for insured patients
Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must state how long each approval lasts and the duration of the approved service. Approvals for chronic or long-term care drugs, devices, or services generally must last at least 12 months. These conditions last at least three months and need ongoing medical attention or limit daily activities. Outpatient service approvals must last at least six months; experimental drugs are excluded from the 12-month rule. Insurers may change chronic-condition drug approval periods if the drug is ineffective, a more effective drug is available, an equally effective cheaper drug is available, or the plan stops covering it.
Patients get deadlines for care approvals
Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must decide care approval requests and notify network providers within seven calendar days. That clock starts after the insurer receives all needed information; urgent requests have a 72-hour deadline. If information is missing, insurers must identify it within one business day and allow at least two business days to respond. They must decide within two business days after receiving the missing information. Urgent requests need supporting documents and a physician’s opinion showing serious risks to life, health, or function, or severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the requested care.
Patients get clearer care denial notices
Beginning January 1, 2027, care denial notices must show each requested billing code as approved or denied on the first page. Insurers must send patients and providers a detailed explanation and appeal information, including the expedited appeal process. Reviewers making clinical or medical-necessity denials must use independent medical judgment, not rely only on another source’s recommendation. That judgment rule does not apply when the reviewer first consults a specialist who knows the patient’s condition.
Patients get clearer insurance approval rules
Beginning January 1, 2027, covered insurers must clearly post understandable care approval rules on a publicly accessible website. Posts must include approval and denial totals, appeal outcomes, average appeal response times, and denials caused by noncompliant provider submissions. Insurers using artificial intelligence for reviews must disclose it online and notify the Insurance Department, network providers, and each enrollee. Before changing an approval rule, insurers must update the website and give at least 30 days’ advance notice. They must also mail or email specific changes to network providers or their representatives upon request. These change-notice rules do not apply when compliance endangers an enrollee’s health or safety, or for newly covered drugs or devices.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John D. Johnson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Katy Hall
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 26 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 1
House vote • 3/4/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 28 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 22 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/19/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/11/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/6/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/6/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/5/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ circled
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
3/4/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #1
3/4/2026
Introduced
2/23/2026