BILL NUMBER: S828
SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the New York state
health care quality and cost containment commission
 
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"
will create a venue for the serious examination of new health care
mandates in a setting isolated from political concerns and focused sole-
ly on healthcare quality and cost. Unfortunately, this commission has
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 health care premiums decrease.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.926/A.7346 Referred to Insurance
2012-22: S.1720 Referred to Insurance
2019-20: S.537/A.6010 Referred to Insurance
2017-18: S.1668a/A.5281a Referred to Insurance/Referred to Insurance
2015-16: S.139-A Referred to Insurance
2013-14: S.3042-A Referred to Insurance
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Positive if costly mandated healthcare benefits are reduced.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S828: 213 insurance law