State Funds Universal Health Care Study

 

The Governor and the New York State Legislature have taken an important step toward universal health care by agreeing to include $200,000 in the state budget for independent studies of the merits of various approaches to universal health care. The legislature adopted part, but not all, of the language developed by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the Assembly Health Committee Chair, to create a Commission on Universal Health Care, which has been strongly supported by Interfaith IMPACT of NYS.

 

This follows on the recent announcement that the Spitzer administration was setting up its own internal task force with the Governor's health care advisors and the departments of health and insurance to explore how to provide universal health care for all.

 

The Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare, a group organized in 2005 with representatives from social action committees from religious organizations, social agencies, advocacy organizations--including IINYS--and interested individuals, praised the legislation.  Dr. Richard Propp, Chair of CDAUH, said, "It is an excellent first step toward assuring that all New Yorkers have equal access to cost effective and comprehensive health care." 

 

Appropriation language for study on universal health coverage:

"For services and expenses related to an analysis of proposals for achieving universal health coverage in New York.  The commissioner of health shall contract with an independent entity, in accordance with applicable law, to conduct the analysis and report on its results.    All records of the entity and the department relating to the methodology, findings and recommendations of the analysis shall be subject to article six of the public officers law.  Proposals to be analyzed shall include, but not be limited to: proposals for providing or promoting universal health coverage through variations on existing private and public health coverage mechanisms; proposals for providing universal health coverage through publicly-sponsored health coverage financed entirely or predominantly through broad-based public financing; and combinations of such mechanisms.  When evaluating different proposals, the entity shall consider, among other factors, how each proposal advances the goal of universal health coverage; controls the cost of health coverage and health care; affects the scope of benefits, the quality of care, and choice of providers for consumers; overcomes the obstacles to universal health coverage; fairly and equitably distributes the cost of health coverage and health care; deals with the level and distribution of costs as a barrier to health coverage or health care; affects employers and employment, particularly small business, the self-employed, sole-proprietors, collective bargaining arrangements, people with multiple, seasonal or sporadic employment and people who are under-employed or unable to work; and promotes the economic  viability  of  hospitals,  community health centers, health care professionals, and other health care providers.  The entity may, with the approval of the commissioner, accept grants or other assistance from any government agency or not-for-profit entity to support or assist it in carrying out the analysis."

 

IINYS joins with the Hunger Action Network, CDAUHC and other partners across the state in hailing this as an unprecedented opportunity for New York State to evaluate universal health care models and assure universal access to quality health care.