S.1573 (Rivera) / A.1316 (Cahill)

STAFF CONTACT :

Counsel
518-694-4462

BILL

S.1573 (Rivera) / A.1316 (Cahill)

SUBJECT

Behavioral Health Services Network (Disallowing Plans to Keep Providers In Network)

DATE

Oppose

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The Business Council of New York State opposes S.1573 (Rivera) / A.1316 (Cahill), which stymies the ability of health plans to control costs and build valuable networks for their clients by prohibiting them from requiring behavioral healthcare providers to participate in all of their insurance lines. 

The Business Council represents thousands of employers who in turn employ over one million New Yorkers. In an effort to both serve their employees and try to contain costs, employers make decisions about health coverage every year, often changing plans along the way. This is one of the many reasons that plans work to maintain robust networks. The removal of providers from particular networks, based merely on the provider aiming for maximum financial return, undermines much of the coverage policy enacted over the last decade.

At the heart of the issue is that a robust network increases quality and continuity of care. By giving carte blanc to providers to pick only the more lucrative insurance lines, this bill not only interferes with contract between parties, it undermines networks designed to deliver care to less wealthy consumers. In this respect, the bill runs counter to all public policy aimed at delivering quality universal coverage. This bill hurts patients and employees.

For these reasons, The Business Council opposes approval of S.1573 (Rivera) / A.1316 (Cahill).