New York State of Health: A Discussion on Implementation

Senate Standing Committee on Insurance
Chair: Senator James L. Seward
Public Hearing: New York State of Health: A Discussion on Implementation
Place: Hamilton Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, Albany,
New York
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Alison Cooper (518) 455-3131
Media Contact: Jeff Bishop (518) 455-3131
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

SUBJECT:    New York State of Health: A discussion on implementation.

PURPOSE:    To hear from stakeholders on the implementation of the New York State Health Insurance Exchange (New York State of Health), to discuss the impact federal health care reform is having on insured individuals, families and small businesses, and to explore possible state options for providing assistance to those affected.

Monday, January 13

10:00 A.M.

Hearing Room B

Legislative Office Building

Albany, NY

Senator Kemp Hannon,  Chairman of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Health and Senator James L. Seward,  Chairman of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Insurance, will be holding a public hearing to examine the readiness of the New York State of Health and to explore how federal health care reform is affecting insured New Yorkers.

The New York State Health Benefit Exchange was established in April 2012 pursuant to Executive Order #42.  New York was one of 15 states to receive federal funding to implement a state-based exchange and began accepting enrollments via its web-based portal on October 1, 2013.  The state has had a steady stream of people signing up for private insurance and newly enrolling in Medicaid effective January 1, 2014.

This hearing will be an opportunity for the committees and the public to hear from stakeholders about their experiences with the exchange and any areas of concern.  In addition, the committees are interested in exploring how previously insured New Yorkers are being affected by federal health care reform and what efforts the state may be able to take to assist them.  Areas to be explored will include:

• Demographics on individuals and families who have enrolled in private plans through the exchange or who have been enrolled in Medicaid and other governmental plans;

• Information on the SHOP Exchange, including current enrollment, how many are expected to register, and how that compares to earlier projections; 

• The administration’s decision not to allow individuals to keep their existing insurance for one more year and whether insurers’ can offer this federal option if they choose; 

• The availability, training, and use of navigators and application counselors; 

• The impact federal health care reform has had on insurance agents and brokers and their experiences dealing with the exchange; 

• The effects on individuals, sole proprietors, and small businesses that are losing insurance because of federal health care reform and facing higher premiums, larger deductibles, smaller networks, and no out-of-network coverage; 

• The effects on organizations that had traditionally provided health insurance coverage to their members prior to health care reform, including chambers of commerce and the freelancers union; 

• The security of consumer information in the exchange; 

• The adequacy of networks, access to out-of-network services both inside and outside of the exchange, and efforts to ensure the state has sufficient primary care.

Oral testimony is by invitation only and will be limited to 10 minutes in duration followed by questions from the committee members.  Twenty copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk.  Written testimony is welcome and may be mailed or emailed to the Chairs. 

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Senate, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities.  For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate facilities and activities.

New York State Senate Standing Committee on Health

Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair

 New York State Standing Committee on Insurance

Senator James L. Seward, Chair