Bill Text: NY S01720 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides that the New York state health care quality and cost containment commission shall: evaluate each mandated benefit; investigate current practices of health plans with regard to the mandated benefit; investigate the potential premium impact of repealing and/or modifying the mandated benefits on all segments of the insurance market; hold at least two public hearings; submit a report to the legislature; makes related provisions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-05 - REFERRED TO INSURANCE [S01720 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-S01720-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1720 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 14, 2021 ___________ Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the New York state health care quality and cost containment commission The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 213 of the insurance law, as added by section 1 of 2 part L of chapter 57 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows: 3 § 213. New York state health care quality and cost containment commis- 4 sion. (a) There is hereby established within the department a commis- 5 sion, to be known as the "New York state health care quality and cost 6 containment commission". The commission shall consist of thirteen 7 members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be the superinten- 8 dent, one of whom shall be the commissioner of health, and six of whom 9 shall be appointed on the recommendation of the legislative leaders, two 10 on the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate, two on 11 the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly, one on the recommen- 12 dation of the minority leader of the senate, and one on the recommenda- 13 tion of the minority leader of the assembly. All members shall serve at 14 the pleasure of the governor, and vacancies shall be appointed in the 15 same manner as original appointments. Members of the commission shall 16 serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable trav- 17 el expenses. In making appointments to the commission, the governor 18 shall ensure that the interests of health care consumers, small busi- 19 nesses, the medical community and health plans are represented on the 20 commission, and that the commission include at least one actuary, one 21 expert on health benefits, having no less than fifteen years of direct 22 experience with health benefits, and one physician. All members of the 23 commission shall be seated no later than ninety days after the effective 24 date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand twenty-one which amended 25 this section and all vacancies shall be filled as soon as practicable. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04048-01-1S. 1720 2 1 (b)(1) The purpose of the commission shall be to analyze the impact on 2 health insurance costs and quality of proposed legislation which would 3 mandate that health benefits be offered or made available in individual 4 and group health insurance policies, contracts and comprehensive health 5 service plans, including legislation that affects the delivery of health 6 benefits or services or the reimbursement of health care providers. 7 (2) The governor, the chair of the senate insurance committee and the 8 chair of the assembly insurance committee may request in writing that 9 the commission evaluate a proposed mandated benefit. Upon receiving such 10 a request, the commission [may, by a majority vote of its members,] 11 shall undertake an evaluation of such proposed mandated benefit. 12 (3) In evaluating a proposed mandated benefit, the commission shall: 13 (A) investigate the current practices of health plans with regard to 14 the proposed mandated benefit, and, to the extent possible, self-funded 15 health benefit plans; 16 (B) investigate the potential premium impact of the proposed mandated 17 benefits on all segments of the insurance market, as well as the poten- 18 tial for avoided costs through early detection and treatment of condi- 19 tions, or more cost-effective delivery of medical services; [and] 20 (C) analyze the most current [medical] and credible evidence based 21 medicine literature regarding the proposed mandated benefit published in 22 peer reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant 23 medical community to determine the effectiveness of the proposed 24 mandated benefit and its impact on health care quality[.]; and 25 (D) investigate the potential cost to the state of the proposed 26 mandated benefits in light of the implementation of the federal afforda- 27 ble care act. 28 (4) In evaluating a proposed mandated benefit, the commission may hold 29 one or more public hearings, and shall strive to obtain independent and 30 verifiable information from diverse sources within the healthcare indus- 31 try, medical community and among health care consumers with regard to 32 the proposed mandated benefit. 33 (c) To assist the commission in its duties, and upon the direction of 34 the commission, the superintendent is authorized to enter into one or 35 more contracts with independent entities and organizations with demon- 36 strable expertise in health care quality, finance, utilization and actu- 37 arial services. For the purposes of this section, the superintendent 38 shall not enter into contracts with health plans, entities or organiza- 39 tions owned or controlled by health plans, or with significant business 40 relationships with health plans. 41 (d) Upon completion of its evaluation of a proposed mandated benefit 42 pursuant to this section, the commission shall deliver a written report 43 of its findings to the chair of the assembly insurance committee and the 44 chair of the senate insurance committee. 45 (e)(1) Beginning no later than nine months after the commission is 46 seated, and reoccurring no less often than once every three years, the 47 commission shall analyze the impact on health insurance costs and quali- 48 ty of all state laws which mandate that health benefits be offered or 49 made available in individual and group health insurance policies, 50 contracts and comprehensive health service plans, including but not 51 limited to laws that affect the delivery of health benefits or services 52 or the reimbursement of health care providers. 53 (2) In evaluating each mandated benefit, the commission shall: 54 (A) investigate the current practices of health plans with regard to 55 the mandated benefit, and, to the extent possible, self-funded health 56 benefit plans including but not limited to avoided costs through earlyS. 1720 3 1 detection and treatment of conditions, or more cost-effective delivery 2 of medical services; 3 (B) investigate the potential premium impact of repealing and/or modi- 4 fying the mandated benefits on all segments of the insurance market; 5 (C) analyze the most current and credible evidence based medicine 6 literature regarding the mandated benefit published in peer reviewed 7 medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical communi- 8 ty to determine the effectiveness of the mandated benefit and its impact 9 on health care quality; and 10 (D) investigate the potential cost to the state of the proposed 11 mandated benefits in light of the implementation of the federal afforda- 12 ble care act. 13 (3) In evaluating mandated benefits, the commission shall hold no less 14 than two public hearings, and shall strive to obtain independent and 15 verifiable information from diverse sources within the health care 16 industry, medical community and among health care consumers with regard 17 to each mandated benefit. 18 (4)(A) On or before the first day of February, two thousand twenty- 19 two, the commission shall submit to the legislature and disseminate to 20 the public recommendations for the repeal and/or modification of state 21 laws which mandate benefits, along with a single piece of legislation 22 necessary to implement such recommendations. These recommendations shall 23 not be expected to increase the average premium in the state. Upon 24 receipt of such recommendations, the implementing legislation therefor 25 shall be introduced in both houses of the legislature without any amend- 26 ments within five days. 27 (B) The legislation introduced pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this 28 paragraph shall be voted upon, without amendment, by both such houses of 29 the legislature within ninety days, but not sooner than thirty days, 30 after the commission submits its recommendations to the legislature. If 31 approved, the legislature shall forward such legislation to the governor 32 within five days. 33 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
