We’re coming down to the wire, and YOU can help out!  This year’s New York State legislative session wraps-up by the end of this week.  We’ve got a few things that can hopefully get across the finish line with a bit of a push from everyone – only 3+ days to go!

Here’s what’s still in play on important health care issues, and how you can help move things along– remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Coverage for All (S.2237/A.3020, Rivera/Gonzalez-Rojas) – This bill will open up New York’s very successful Essential Plan to all low-income New Yorkers and families regardless of immigration status issues. Federal funding is likely available for it through a Section 1332 waiver (refers to a provision of the Affordable Care Act) – all we have to do is ask about it. Here’s a good explainer on this bill.

• State of Play: Health care and immigrant rights advocates pushed hard to get this idea included in the final state budget agreement earlier this Spring. The Legislature was fully in support and fought for its inclusion, but Governor Hochul wanted rock-solid assurance first that the federal government would cover the cost before she would commit to the idea. She has since written to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for clarification, as have both the Health Committee chairs from the State Senate and Assembly, and all are now waiting for replies. In the meantime, the Legislature can enact authorizing legislation now so that all is ready to move ahead once a favorable response is received – no need to wait until next year!
• What YOU can do: Contact YOUR own State Senator and Assemblymember to urge this program be authorized before the end of session. You can also use this digital toolkit to engage lawmakers, and to help others understand why this important step is needed.

End Medical Debt – There are two bills under this category:

• The Ounce of Prevention Act (S.13666a/A.6027a, Rivera/Paulin) will streamline and update the State’s hospital financing assistance program’s standards so that more people can easily qualify and for greater financial support. The Attorney General’s office has suddenly stepped forward with support and is putting forward for some improvements, so this bill is now being set aside until next year’s session. In the meantime, advocates have also begun discussions with hospital industry leaders to attempt to forge a shared bill that all stakeholders can support. All is hopeful but will be delayed.
• The Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act (S.4907a/A.6275a, Rivera/Paulin) will prohibit health care providers and collection agencies from reporting outstanding medical debt to credit agencies. It has passed the Senate, and is poised to go the Assembly floor for debate and vote – if so, it will likely pass. Leadership just has to schedule it. Contact YOUR own Assemblymember to ask them to have Speaker Heastie move this bill to the floor. If you like, here is a handy click-to-email tool you can use.

Regulating Hospital Closures – The Local Input for Community Healthcare Act (S.2085/A.1366, Kavanaugh/Simon) will set up a formal system for State oversight of hospital closures as industry consolidation continues into building ever-larger hospital networks. Right now, there isn’t much of a meaningful role for State officials, and what exists is very weak and haphazard. Local communities deserve better! Here is a summary of this bill from Community Voices for Health System Accountability, a statewide project we help to lead.

• State of Play: This bill passed the Assembly last week, and is poised to go to the Senate floor IF a debate and vote gets scheduled by leadership. Last year, at this same time this bill also passed the Assembly, but the clock ran out in the Senate before it could be voted on – we don’t want that to happen again this year!
• What YOU can do: Contact YOUR own State Senator to ask them to have Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins move this bill to the floor before adjournment. Organizations can also use this “Memo of Support” template and send it to Senator Kavanaugh’s lead staff for this bill (Anthony Macerola, amacerola.nysenate@gmail.com)

Thanks much for all your help to get these bills over the finish line in the next 3 days!