NYHPA Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways & Means Committee on 2018-2019 Executive Budget Proposals on Health Care
February 12, 2018
Introduction
The New York Health Plan Association (HPA), comprised of 28 health plans that provide comprehensive health care services to more than eight million fully-insured New Yorkers, appreciates the opportunity to present its members’ views on the Governor’s budget proposals. We are here today specifically to address the Governor’s proposal to create a new tax on health insurers.
Our member health plans have long partnered with the state in achieving its health care goals, including collaborating on efforts to develop affordable coverage options for individuals, families and small businesses, providing access to care that exceeds national quality benchmarks for both commercial and government program enrollees, and improving access to quality care in its government programs. HPA members include plans that offer a full range of health insurance and managed care products (HMO, PPO, POS, etc.), public health plans (PHPs) and managed long term care (MLTC) plans. The New Yorkers who rely on these plans are enrolled through employers, as individuals, or through government sponsored programs — Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus — and through New York’s exchange, the NY State of Health (NYSOH).
We appreciate the opportunity to offer our view on the proposed 2018-2019 Executive Budget in relation to its application for health care spending in New York.