• No Individual Mandate
• No Employer Mandate
• Government Role Is Market Facilitator
• Regulatory Authority Strictly Limited to Establishment of Electronic Data Standards
• Began By Implementing Private Market Reforms First; Public Sector Reforms to Follow
• Consumer Centered Approach
• Promotes Choice and Competition in the Marketplace
• Staff of 3 employees

• Individual Mandate
• Employer Mandate
• Government Role Is Contracting Agent
• Established Massachusetts Connector Authority with Broad Regulatory Responsibilities
• Acted First on Public Sector Reforms; Now Rolling Out Private Insurance Market Reforms
• Government Centered Approach
• Government Picks Winners and Losers
• Staff of approximately 45 employees

Utah’s Exchange Does Not Include Mandates And Allows Small Businesses To Define Their Contributions To Workers’ Health Benefits. “The Utah Health Exchange borrows some ideas from Massachusetts’ exchange created in 2006, but the plans differ in important ways. Massachusetts requires everyone to buy insurance and firms with more than 10 full-time employees face penalties if they don’t contribute to premiums. In Utah, the exchange will not come with mandates, and it allows small businesses for the first time to define their contribution to workers’ health benefits.” (John Tozzi, ‘What Utah’s Health Reform Means To Small Business,” BusinessWeek, 9/4/09)

According To A 2010 Estimate, Utah’s Connector Had Only Three Employees And A $670,000 Budget. “Nevertheless, Smith said many states favor the Utah model over the nation’s first exchange, Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Connector, which has 1,500 policyholders and is run by 45 employees on a $40 million budget. ‘Ours was run by two, now three, employees and cost $670,000,’ said Smith. ‘That makes it more palatable to states fresh from one of the worst budget years in recent history.’” (Kirsten Stewart, “State Workers Land Private Consulting Gig,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/14/10)

Utah’s Insurance Exchange Allows People To Sign Up For Insurance “Almost As Easily As They Download Music From ITunes.” “In Utah, employees of small businesses can go to a state Web site and sign up for insurance over the Internet, almost as easily as they download music from iTunes.” (Robert Pear, “Health Care Overhaul Depends On States’ Insurance Exchanges,” The New York Times, 10/23/10)

“The Utah Health Exchange Organizes The Market, Allowing Consumers To Compare A Wide Variety Of Health Plans Sold By Any Insurers That Want To Participate.” (Robert Pear, “Health Care Overhaul Depends On States’ Insurance Exchanges,” The New York Times, 10/23/10)

Utah Passed Tort Reform, Increasing The Level Of Evidence Plaintiffs Must Show. “SB 79, Medical Malpractice Amendments » Increases the level of evidence plaintiffs must show from ‘preponderance of evidence,’ to ‘clear and convincing evidence’ for emergency room-related malpractice claims. It also tightens the state’s licensing laws to increase oversight of out-of-state medical expert witnesses.” (Lisa Rosetta, “Bill Allows Workers To Use Employer Contributions To Buy Own Health Care Plans,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 3/11/09)

Massachusetts Includes An Individual Mandate. “The Utah Health Exchange borrows some ideas from Massachusetts’ exchange created in 2006, but the plans differ in important ways. Massachusetts requires everyone to buy insurance and firms with more than 10 full-time employees face penalties if they don’t contribute to premiums. In Utah, the exchange will not come with mandates, and it allows small businesses for the first time to define their contribution to workers’ health benefits.” (John Tozzi, “What Utah’s Health Reform Means To Small Business,” BusinessWeek, 9/4/09)

Massachusetts State Exchange Is Run By 45 Employees And Costs Tens Of Millions Of Dollars. “Nevertheless, Smith said many states favor the Utah model over the nation’s first exchange, Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Connector, which has 1,500 policyholders and is run by 45 employees on a $40 million budget.” (Kirsten Stewart, “State Workers Land Private Consulting Gig,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/14/10)

In Massachusetts, The State Is “An Active Purchaser, Soliciting Bids” And Negotiating Prices. “In the Massachusetts exchange, known as the Connector, the state serves as an active purchaser, soliciting bids from insurance companies and negotiating prices and benefits in an effort to secure the best value for state residents.” (Robert Pear, “Health Care Overhaul Depends On States’ Insurance Exchanges,” The New York Times, 10/23/10)

“Health Plans Cannot Be Sold Through The Connector Unless They Receive Its Seal Of Approval.” (Robert Pear, “Health Care Overhaul Depends On States’ Insurance Exchanges,” The New York Times, 10/23/10)

Massachusetts Covered Elective Abortions. “In his first run for the White House in 2008, Romney received a fair amount of pushback for the individual mandate included in his plan, which required Massachusetts’s residents of a certain income to purchase insurance. But the fact that his health care law covered elective abortions caused him equally painful headaches.” (Sam Stein, “Mitt Romney’s Other Health Care Hurdle: Abortion,” The Huffington Post, 5/31/11)