By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-937970.mp3
Albany, NY – The new Federal Health Care Law is hitting home for one of New York's largest health care consumer coalitions. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports advocates are warning the structure of New York's health exchange will make or break Health Care Reform in the Empire State
The new patient protection and affordable care act leaves a lot of decisions on how to implement health care reform up to the individual states. For New York to effectively comply with the new federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Governor and Legislature will need to pass legislation that creates an insurance exchange in the 2011 session.
"Health Care for All New York" has released a "roadmap for health reform in New York" - comprised of five basic standards: A single statewide exchange that would serve all New Yorkers; It would offer quality and affordable benefit packages; be easy to navigate and represent consumers; It would build on the state's existing public programs, and be open to all regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or immigration status.
Elisabeth Benjamin is Vice President of Health Initiatives with the Community Services Society. She joins other advocates in calling for a "one size fits all" approach to the new health exchange for the public. Benjamin fears the new Congress will prove to be the biggest obstacle to a fair roll-out of President Obama's landmark health care legislation. She and the other advocates are calling on Governor-Elect Cuomo and the State Legislature to implement the Affordable Care Act fairly and effectively so that the maximum number of people are covered and that all New Yorkers receive quality, affordable health care. Federal law mandates New York's exchange must be operational by January 1, 2014.