Relates to the New York state health care quality and cost containment commission

3 Co-sponsors

• William J. Larkin Jr.
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• James L. Seward

BILL NUMBER:S3042A

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the New York state health care quality and cost containment commission

Purpose

To ensure that New York does not mandate healthcare benefits that impose increased costs without meaningful increases in healthcare quality.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 requires that the commission be seated in a timely manner, ensures that the commission includes appointees with the qualifications to accurately assess healthcare mandates, and directs the commission to evaluate proposed benefits using evidence based medicine and in light of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, this section provides for a complete quality and cost review of all mandated benefits currently in existence and requires follow up reviews of all mandated benefits every three years. Following these reviews, the commission will issue recommendations for the repeal and/or modification of mandate benefits which are not found to meet standards for costs and or quality, to be voted on by the legislature, without amendments.

Section 2 provides for an immediate effective date.

Existing law

There is no timeline for the seating of the "New York State Health Care Quality and Cost Containment Commission" and this commission only may analyze new benefits.

Justification

The "New York State Health Care Quality and Cost Containment Commission" created a venue for the serious examination of new health care mandates in a setting isolated from political concerns and focused solely on healthcare quality and cost. Unfortunately this commission is yet to be seated. By ensuring that New York does not mandate healthcare benefits that impose increased costs without meaningful increases in healthcare quality, businesses and individuals in the state will see their healthcare premiums decrease.

Legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

Positive if costly mandated healthcare benefits are reduced.

Local fiscal implications

Positive if costly mandated healthcare benefits are reduced.

Effective date

Immediate.