This is a Single Payer Plan Bill introduced by Richard
Gottfried. If your representative is not listed here please
write, fax or phone them and urge them to support this bill. If your
representative is a sponsor thank them and tell them how desperately
New Yorkers need this plan.
A06576 Summary:SAME AS Same as S 3459
SPONSOR Gottfried
COSPNSR Grannis, Brennan, Gantt, Jacobs, Seminerio, Tonko, Dinowitz, Paulin,
Bing, Peoples
MLTSPNSR Abbate, Aubry, Benedetto, Benjamin, Boyland, Bradley, Brodsky, Cahil
Clark, Cohen A, Colton, Cook, Cymbrowitz, Diaz L, Diaz R, DiNapoli,
Eddington, Englebright, Espaillat, Farrell, Glick, Gordon, Green,
Greene, Gunther, Heastie, Hikind, Hooper, Hoyt, John, Karben,
Lafayette, Lavelle, Lavine, Lentol, Lifton, Lopez, Magee, Markey,
Mayersohn, McEneny, Millman, Nolan, Norman, O`Donnell, Ortiz, Peralt
Perry, Pheffer, Powell, Pretlow, Ramos, Reilly, Rivera J, Rivera N,
Rivera P, Robinson, Sanders, Scarborough, Stringer, Sweeney, Towns,
Weinstein, Weisenberg, Weprin,
Ren Art 50 SS5000 - 5003 to be Art 80 SS8000 - 8003, add Art 51 SS5100 - 5110,
Pub Health L; add S89-f, St Fin L; add Art 35 SS1700 - 1702, Tax L
Enacts the New York State Health Plan, a comprehensive system of access to
health insurance for New York state residents: provides for administrative
structure of the plan, including its status as a public benefit corporation;
provides for powers and duties of the governing board, the scope of benefits,
payment mechanisms and cost controls; establishes the New York Health Trust
Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to
finance the plan; establishes a mechanism to collect plan premium payments (an
8% employer premium and a 2% employee payroll premium, which may be paid by an
employer, plus a 9% premium payment on self-employment income); establishes a
temporary commission on implementation of the plan and makes a $500,000
appropriation therefor; and directs the superintendent of insurance to examine
he premium rate structure for insurance underwritten in the state and to
identify that portion of premiums which are attributable to health care
expenditures due to implementation of the plan.
A06576 Actions:03/16/2005 referred to health
05/03/2005 reported referred to ways and means
A06576 Votes:
A06576 Memo:TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, the state
finance law and the tax law, in relation to the establishment of the
New York health plan and making an appropriation to the temporary
commission on implementation of the New York health plan and providing
for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To establish a comprehensive system
of universal access to health insurance by all residents of New York
State, access to and choice of health care providers, controls on
health care costs, development of health care services, and a
mechanism for financing of the program.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends the Public Health
Law by adding a new Article 51 establishing the New York Health Plan.
Article 51 sets forth the administrative structure of the New York
Health Plan (including its establishment as an independent public
benefit corporation), the powers and duties of the governing board,
the scope of benefits, payment mechanisms and cost controls.
Key features of New York Health include the following:
- Benefits would include medically necessary health services including
preventive and primary care, hospital care, dental, eye care,
prescription drugs, mental health, treatment for drug and alcohol
addictions, and rehabilitative care;
- Coverage would be extended to residents of New York State without
regard to age, income, health or employment status;
- Payment for provider services would be on the basis of global
budgets for hospitals and other institutional providers, individual
practitioners would be able to choose fee-for-service, capitation or
be salaried by a global budget institution. There would be no
out-of-pocket charges for individuals, and no balance billing;
- Administration of the plan, as an independent public benefit
corporation, would be by an 18-member Board of Governors, appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Board would be
representative of consumers and providers of health care services, as
well as labor and business;
- Financing of the program would be through several sources. Current
federal, state and local expenditures for health care services -
primarily through Medicare and Medicaid - would be incorporated into
the New York Health Plan. Employers and employees, persons who are
self employed and those with high investment incomes would pay a
uniform New York Health Plan premium. In addition, as much as $5
billion in administrative over-head - under our current method of
providing health insurance - would be eliminated, redirecting dollars
to broadened coverage under the plan.
Section 2 amends the State Finance Law by adding a new section 97-00
establishing the New York Health Trust Fund. Monies in the fund would
be used to finance the New York Health Plan. Sources include:
federal, state and local expenditures for the Medicare and Medicaid
programs; premium payment revenues paid by employers and employees;
funds previously appropriated for services that would now be covered
by the New York Health Plan. Monies in the fund would be solely for
the purposes of New York Health, and would not be subject to
appropriation.
Section 3 amends the Tax Law by adding a new Article 35 establishing a
mechanism to collect New York Health Plan premium payments. An 8%
employer and 2% employee payroll premium (the employer may pay the
employee`s share), and a 9% premium payment on self-employment income
would be established. Premium payments would also be levied on
unearned income in instances where such income exceeds 50% of an
individual`s total income, additional revenues include premium
payments by out-of-state employers. Persons eligible for Medicare
benefits would be exempt from payment of the premium on unearned
income.
Section 4 establishes a temporary commission on implementation of New
York Health to examine New York statutes and make recommendations to
conform state statute to the provisions of New York Health. The
commission would be jointly appointed by the Governor and the
Legislature.
Section 5 directs the Superintendent of Insurance, in consultation
with a technical advisory committee, to examine the premium rate
structure for insurance underwritten in the state and to identify that
portion of premiums which are attributable to health care expenditures
due to implementation of New York Health.
Section 6 appropriates $500,000 to the temporary commission on
implementation of New York Health.
Section 7 provides for an effective date on the first day of January
following enactment into law, and also establishes the following
timetable for implementation:
- by February 28 the Governor shall make the initial appointments to
the New York Health Board of Governors;
- by March 31, the Commissioner of Health is directed to apply for
necessary federal waivers to allow for the participation of Medicare
and Medicaid in the New York Health Plan;
- by December 31 the Board of Governors and the Commissioner of Health
shall develop a procedure for the deposit of Medicare and Medicaid
funds into the New York Health Trust Fund;
- On January 1 premium payments and New York Health Plan benefits
would begin.
JUSTIFICATION: Today, New Yorkers spend an exorbitant amount of money
for a patchwork of health coverage programs that fails to cover
millions of individuals, fails to provide needed services, and fails
to control costs. Huge and growing amounts are spent on paperwork and
administration, rather than health care services. New York Health
offers an opportunity to provide quality health care coverage to all
New Yorkers, while also containing increases in medical costs.
Over 3 million New Yorkers lack health insurance coverage while
another 3 million are underinsured. In addition, more and more New
Yorkers are confronted with the choice of maintaining coverage in the
face of rising out-of-pocket expenses, mounting costs and health
insurance premiums, or going without coverage. In addition, the rise
of managed care has transformed the health care delivery system. The
patient`s health care professional`s judgments on treatment are
second-guessed by corporate personnel. Only through comprehensive
reform, as that proposed by New York Health, will there be a
re-balance of the health care system to patient needs and the
professional judgments of practitioners. The New York Health Plan
seeks to address the needs of that portion of the population lacking
health insurance coverage, as well as the needs of the growing number
of New Yorkers who are frustrated with the coverage they have.
Through establishment of a uniform and universal benefit plan coverage
could be extended to all New Yorkers while also reducing expenditures
and controlling health care costs.
The New York Health Plan achieves savings through the consolidation of
health care expenditures under a single, publicly financed, insurance
program. Such a program eliminates more than $5 billion in
administrative waste, including excess insurance company
administration and costs of billing and collecting for hospitals,
physicians and other health care providers. It also provides stability
to New York`s hospitals, freeing up resources for patient care. The
savings would be used to finance increased health care coverage for
the over 3 million New Yorkers lacking coverage, and the many million
more with inadequate coverage. Funds could thus be targeted for
primary and preventive services, training of health care workers, and
to enable physicians to set up practices in inner city and rural
communities.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.8912-A of 1992 passed Assembly; A.5900
of 1993 reported to Ways and Means; A.5900 of 1994 referred to Health
Committee; A.6801 of 1995 reported to Ways and Means; A.6801 of 1996
reported to Ways and Means; A.6172 of 1997 reported to Ways and Means;
A.6172 of 1998 reported to Ways and Means; A.3571 of 1999 reported to
Ways and Means; A.3571 of 2000 reported to Ways and Means; 2001:
A.6779 - reported to Ways and Means; 2003-04: A6952 reported to Ways
and Means.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: No new costs to state and local government.
Current governmental expenditures for the provision of health care
services, such as Medicaid, would be utilized to support coverage
under the New York Health Plan, cost control and quality assurance
mechanisms under the plan will restrain health care cost increases
otherwise experienced by governmental payors. In addition, as an
employer, state and local government-like all employers providing
health benefits - will realize a reduction in their expenditures for
employer provided health insurance coverage by paying the lower New
York Health Plan premium payment.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The first of January following enactment.
Assembly Health Committee A06576
Write members of the health committee and ask them to support this bill.
District:
3—Patricia Eddington—R
10—James Conte—R
17—Maureen C. O’Connell—D
27—Nattie Mayersohn—D
40—Diane Gordon—D
42—Rhoda Jacobs—D
45—Steven Cymbrowitz—R
51—Sandy Glaef—R
54—Darryl Towns—D
65—Alex Grannis—D
73—Jonathan Bing—D
80—Naomi Rivera—D
81—Jeffery Dinowitz—D
88—Amy Paulin—D
98—Aileen Gunther—D
101—Kevin Cahill—D
120—William Magnarelli—D
121—Jeff Brown—D
136—Jim Bacalles—R
140—Robin Schimminger—D
141—Crystal Peoples—D
149—Catharine M. Young—R
IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT SIGNED ON - WRITE, FAX OR CALL THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEIR SUPPORT. SENATE COMPANION BILL S3459 - SCHNEIDERMAN
BILL NUMBER: S3459
SPONSOR: SCHNEIDERMAN
COSPONSORS: BROWN, DIAZ, DILAN, DUANE, DRUEGER, DRUGER, MONTGOMERY, ONORATO, OPPENHEIMER,PARKER, PATERSON, SAMPSON, a. SMITH, M. SMITH, STRAVISKY
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, the state
finance law and the tax law, in relation to the establishment of the New
York health plan and making an appropriation to the temporary commission
on implementation of the New York health plan and providing for the
repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To establish a comprehensive system
of universal access to health insurance by all residents of New York
State, access to and choice of health care providers, controls on health
care costs, development of health care services, and a mechanism for
financing of the program.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends the Public Health
Law by adding a new Article 51 establishing the New York Health Plan.
Article 51 sets forth the administrative structure of the New York
Health Plan (including its establishment as an independent public bene-
fit corporation), the powers and duties of the governing board, the
scope of benefits, payment mechanisms and cost controls.
Key features of New York Health include the following:
- Benefits would include medically necessary health services including
preventive and primary care, hospital care, dental, eye care,
prescription drugs, mental health, treatment for drug and alcohol
addictions, and rehabilitative care;
- Coverage would be extended to residents of New York State without
regard to age, income, health or employment status;
- Payment for provider services would be on the basis of global budgets
for hospitals and other institutional providers, individual practition-
ers would be able to choose fee-for-service, capitation or be salaried
by a global budget institution. There would be no out-of-pocket charges
for individuals, and no balance billing;
- Administration of the plan, as an independent public benefit corpo-
ration, would be by an 18-member Board of Governors, appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Board would be representative
of consumers and providers of health care services, as well as labor and
business;
- Financing of the program would be through several sources. Current
federal, state and local expenditures for health care services - prima-
rily through Medicare and Medicaid - would be incorporated into the New
York Health Plan. Employers and employees, persons who are self-employed
and those with high investment incomes would pay a uniform New York
Health Plan premium. In addition, as much as $5 billion in administra-
tive over-head - under our current method of providing health insu-
rance-would be eliminated, redirecting dollars to broadened coverage
under the plan.
Section 2 amends the State Finance Law by adding a new section 97-oo
establishing the New York Health Trust Fund. Monies in the fund would be
used to finance the New York Health Plan. Sources include: federal,
state and local expenditures for the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
premium payment revenues paid by employers and employees; funds previ-
ously appropriated for services that would now be covered by the New
York Health Plan. Monies in the fund would be solely for the purposes of
New York Health, and would not be subject to appropriation.
Section 3 amends the Tax Law by adding a new Article 35 establishing a
mechanism to collect New York Health Plan premium payments. An 8%
employer and 2% employee payroll premium (the employer may pay the
employee's share), and a 9% premium payment on self-employment income
would be established. Premium payments would also be levied on unearned
income in instances where such income exceeds 50% of an individual's
total income, additional revenues include premium payments by out-of-
state employers. Persons eligible for Medicare benefits would be exempt
from payment of the premium on unearned income.
Section 4 establishes a temporary commission on implementation of New
York Health to examine New York statutes and make recommendations to
conform state statute to the provisions of New York Health. The commis-
sion would be jointly appointed by the Governor and the Legislature.
Section 5 directs the Superintendent of Insurance, in consultation with
a technical advisory committee, to examine the premium rate structure
for insurance underwritten in the state and to identify that portion of
premiums which are attributable to health care expenditures due to
implementation of New York Health.
Section 6 appropriates $500,000 to the temporary commission on implemen-
tation of New York Health.
Section 7 provides for an effective date on the first day of January
following enactment into law, and also establishes the following timeta-
ble for implementation:
- by February 28 the Governor shall make the initial appointments to the
New York Health Board of Governors;
- by March 31, the Commissioner of Health is directed to apply for
necessary federal waivers to allow for the participation of Medicare and
Medicaid in the New York Health Plan;
- by December 31 the Board of Governors and the Commissioner of Health
shall develop a procedure for the deposit of Medicare and Medicaid funds
into the New York Health Trust Fund;
- On January 1 premium payments and New York Health Plan benefits would
begin.
JUSTIFICATION: Today, New Yorkers spend an exorbitant amount of money
for a patchwork of health coverage programs that fails to cover millions
of individuals, fails to provide needed services, and fails to control
costs. Huge and growing amounts are spent on paperwork and adminis-
tration, rather than health care services. New York Health offers an
opportunity to provide quality health care coverage to all New Yorkers,
while also containing increases in medical costs.
Over 3 million New Yorkers lack health insurance coverage while another
3 million are underinsured. In addition, more and more New Yorkers are
confronted with the choice of maintaining coverage in the face of rising
out-of-pocket expenses, mounting costs and health insurance premiums, or
going without coverage. In addition, the rise of managed care has trans-
formed the health care delivery system. The patient's health care
professional's judgments on treatment are second-guessed by corporate
personnel. Only through comprehensive reform, as that proposed by New
York Health, will there be a re-balance of the health care system to
patient needs and the professional judgments of practitioners. The New
York Health Plan seeks to address the needs of that portion of the popu-
lation lacking health insurance coverage, as well as the needs of the
growing number of New Yorkers who are frustrated with the coverage they
have. Through establishment of a uniform and universal benefit plan
coverage could be extended to all New Yorkers while also reducing
expenditures and controlling health care costs.
The New York Health Plan achieves savings through the consolidation of
health care expenditures under a single, publicly financed, insurance
program. Such a program eliminates more than $5 billion in administra-
tive waste, including excess insurance company administration and costs
of billing and collecting for hospitals, physicians and other health
care providers. It also provides stability to New York's hospitals,
freeing up resources for patient care. The savings would be used to
finance increased health care coverage for the over 3 million New York-
ers lacking coverage, and the many million more with inadequate cover-
age. Funds could thus be targeted for primary and preventive services,
training of health care workers, and to enable physicians to set up
practices in inner city and rural communities.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A6779 of 2002 reported to Ways and Means
S3354 of 2002 referred to Health
A6952 of 2004 reported to Ways and Means
S3068 of 2004 referred to Health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: No new costs to state and local government.
Current governmental expenditures for the provision of health care
services, such as Medicaid, would be utilized to support coverage under
the New York Health Plan, cost control and quality assurance mechanisms
under the plan will restrain health care cost increases otherwise expe-
rienced by governmental payors. In addition, as an employer, state and
local government - like all employers providing health benefits - will
realize a reduction in their expenditures for employer-provided health
insurance coverage by paying the lower New York Health Plan premium
payment.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The first of January following enactment.
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE S3459
FARLEY, SAMPSON, LIBOUS, MONTGOMERY,DEFRANCISCO,ONORATO,LARKIN,DUANE,MAZIARZ,ANDREWS,FUSCHILLO,SMITH,M,RATH,KLEIN,SPANO,WINNER
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