The Utah House rejected by a 44-30 vote a measure that would have required insurers to cover medical procedures for jail and prison inmates who have their own insurance policies.

Backers said Tuesday the bill would save taxpayer dollars and require insurers to live up to the risk they took when they collected premiums, but the opponents said it could make insurance more expensive for small businesses.

Opponents also said the state has a duty to care for those it incarcerates.

"We pay for their food and their lodging," said Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo. "We should probably pay for their health care."

But HB22's sponsor, Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, said caring for inmates costs the state $23 million a year. If inmates already have insurance through their spouses or employers, the expense should come from the insurer who accepted the premiums, he said.

Many inmates lose employer-based insurance when they are incarcerated, Ray said. Those who still have it should be able to use it to defray the state's costs.

"The taxpayer for too long has been paying the dime of these big insurance companies," Ray said.

His bill would have exempted insurers from paying for treatment of injuries caused by prison fights or other conditions brought on by incarceration. He rejected opponents' claims that it would boost small business costs by increasing the risk among their insurance pools. Except for fights, he said, inmates are lower risks than most -- no skiing or car accidents -- and few can afford COBRA insurance policies to remain in the pool even after terminated.