HB 171

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 171
1Physician Assistant Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Stephen L. Whyte
  Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill makes changes to provisions related to physician assistants.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ makes technical changes to provisions related to physician assistants to conform to
9  current code;
10      ▸ amends provisions related to insurance coverage for primary care related to physician
11  assistants; and
12      ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
13  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14      None
15  Other Special Clauses:
16      None
17  Utah Code Sections Affected:
18  AMENDS:
19      26B-4-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 50, 340 and 470
20      31A-22-624, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 50
21
22  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 26B-4-301 is amended to read:
2426B-4-301 . Definitions.
25     As used in this part:
26  (1) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services created in Section
27      53-2d-102.
28  (2) "Committee" means the Primary Care Grant Committee described in Section 26B-1-410.
 H.B. 171  Enrolled Copy
29   (3) "Community based organization":
30(a) means a private entity; and
31(b) includes for profit and not for profit entities.
32   (4) "Cultural competence" means a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that
33come together in a system, agency, or profession and enables that system, agency, or
34profession to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
35   (5) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain,
36process, and understand health information and services needed to make appropriate
37health decisions.
38   (6) "Institutional capacity" means the ability of a community based organization to
39implement public and private contracts.
40   (7) "Medically underserved population" means the population of an urban or rural area or a
41population group that the committee determines has a shortage of primary health care.
42   (8) "Pregnancy support services" means services that:
43(a) encourage childbirth instead of voluntary termination of pregnancy; and
44(b) assist pregnant women, or women who may become pregnant, to choose childbirth
45whether they intend to parent or select adoption for the child.
46   (9) "Primary care grant" means a grant awarded by the department under Subsection
4726B-4-310(1).
48   (10)(a) "Primary health care" means:
49(i) basic and general health care services given when a person seeks assistance to
50screen for or to prevent illness and disease, or for simple and common illnesses
51and injuries; and
52(ii) care given for the management of chronic diseases.
53(b) "Primary health care" includes:
54(i) services of physicians, nurses, [physician's] physician assistants, physical
55therapists, and dentists licensed to practice in this state under Title 58,
56Occupations and Professions;
57(ii) diagnostic and radiologic services;
58(iii) preventive health services including perinatal services, well-child services, and
59other services that seek to prevent injury, disease, or the consequences of injury or
60disease;
61(iv) emergency medical services;
62(v) preventive dental services; and
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 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 171
63(vi) pharmaceutical services.
64Section 2. Section 31A-22-624 is amended to read:
6531A-22-624 . Primary care physician, physician assistant, or physical therapist.
66  (1) An accident and health insurance policy that requires an insured to select a primary care
67      provider or physician to receive optimum coverage shall permit an insured to select a
68      participating provider who is:
69      (a)(i) an obstetrician;
70(ii) a gynecologist;
71(iii) a pediatrician; or
72(iv) a physician assistant who [works with a physician:] has trained in a primary care
73physician's office and completed the physician assistant's collaboration
74requirement described in Section 58-70a-307; and
75[(A) providing primary care; or]
76[(B) described in Subsection (1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii); and]
77      (b) qualified and willing to provide primary care services, as defined by the health care
78plan, as the insured's provider from whom primary care services are received.
79  (2) Subject to Subsection (5), an accident and health insurance policy that requires an
80      insured to select a primary care provider or physician to receive optimum coverage may
81      permit an insured to select a participating provider who is a physical therapist to provide
82      physical therapy services.
83  (3) An accident and health insurance policy shall clearly state in literature explaining the
84      policy the options available to insureds under Subsections (1) and (2).
85  (4) An accident and health insurance policy may not impose a higher premium, higher
86      copayment requirement, or any other additional expense on an insured because the
87      insured selected a primary care physician in accordance with this section.
88  (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), nothing in this section permits a physical therapist to
89      practice physical therapy outside of the physical therapist's scope of practice under Title
90      58, Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice Act.
91Section 3. Effective Date.
92  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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