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Richard Piatt ReportingDoes a newly formed non-profit group have your best interests in mind in its study of health care? That's the question Eyewitness News asked in an investigation last week. At risk is one group's influence on the Legislature and the future of Utah health care. Today, Richard Piatt follows up, finding more answers to questions about who the group's members are and how much money is involved.
The leaders of the Utah Healthcare coalition say they want to be open; President Roger Ball filed disclosure forms at both Federal and State offices today. Those documents show the non-profit group got 45-thousand dollars in contributions last year.
But Ball declined to say who those contributors are. So we asked around and got this response from Regence Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
Kathleen Murphy, Regence Blue Cross-Blue Shield: "We provided $45,000 in startup money."
The information is potentially significant because Regence---a major contributor---is also competitor to IHC's health insurance business, SelectCare.
The Coalition has stated it's going to try and influence health care policy at the Legislature. So the question is, should the public worry about conflict of interest? A member of the Coalition's board of Directors says no.
Steven Ray, Utah Healthcare Coalition: "We have only one purpose and that's to provide a voice to the consumers, for the consumers to the legislative task force."
IHC Vice President Wes Thompson says he doesn't recognize names of the Coalitions Board of Directors, but he also has concerns about the group's intentions.
Wes Thompson, Intermountain Health Care: "We are still interested in who they are and who's funding them. I think that's appropriate for the community."
Along with Regence Blue Cross, Eyewitness News learned Mountain Star Hospital also contributed $400 this year. Mountain Star has since withdrawn from the Coalition, out of concern about the group's agenda.
That leaves Roger Ball--an established consumer advocate with a record for openness--with a challenge. He plans to use his reputation to balance concerns about confidentiality of its members, the challenge of fundraising, and the goal of fighting for health care consumers. He says he faced those challenges when he fought for utility rate payers in his last job.
Roger Ball, Utah Healthcare Coalition: "Not at any one point did I sell out consumers, because I was penalized for speaking openly and freely on their behalf. I'm not about to be intimidated now, either. The coalition needs funding to go forward."
The group also needs to build on its relationships with stake holders, the community, and the Legislature.
