Bills on Health and Insurance Committee Agendas Would Add Costs to Health Coverage
Saying it is “Déjà vu all over again,” the New York Health Plan Association (HPA) today called on the Assembly Health and Insurance Committees to reject hold over proposals that will add to the cost of health care and reduce affordability for New Yorkers.
“It’s a new year, but the same old story,” said Paul F. Macielak, HPA president and CEO. “Six bills on the Assembly Health Committee agenda and the one bill under consideration by the Insurance and Codes Committees will all negatively impact affordability of health care for New Yorkers. Lawmakers should be looking at ways to rein in costs that further expands access to coverage instead of pulling out old ideas that would have the opposite effect.”
Measures such as extending the period of time health plan enrollees may continue to receive services from a health care provider who is not a member of the plan’s network (A.1932), or encourages use of off label prescriptions (A.2110), or expanding access to early intervention services and shifting the costs of those services from municipalities to insurance coverage (A.273), all add to the underlying cost of coverage. On issues such as the physician collective bargaining bill (A.336-A/S.1157-A), the Federal Trade Commission has weighed in, saying it poses “substantial risk of consumer harm” as it “will likely raise prices and reduce access for health care services, without ensuring improved quality of care or other consumer benefits.” The Attorney General’s proposal to require coverage of all forms of contraceptives (A.8135-B), being considered by the Assembly Insurance and Codes Committees, goes beyond the federal Health and Human Services guidelines issued last year and is unnecessary.
“We have made significant progress in providing New Yorkers with access to health care, as shown by the more than two million previously uninsured New Yorkers who now have coverage as a result of New York’s initiatives under the Affordable Care Act,” said Macielak. “To continue this process, we must now address the issue of affordability in health care.”
“Any efforts that threaten affordability also threaten access. Lawmakers must be mindful of the impact proposals like these being considered by the Assembly committees today have on the ability of New Yorkers to afford health coverage, and we urge the committees to reject these bills,” added Macielak.