New York Employer Coverage Survey Released

A new report on employer-sponsored health insurance, released this week by the New York State Health Foundation, indicates that the percentage of New Yorkers covered by their employer has fallen over the last decade, from 69% in 2001 to 58% in 2009.  This percentage is, furthermore, slightly lower than the national average of 65%.  The percentage of employers actually offering coverage, though, remained steady at 70% over the same period.  Decreases in take-up are attributed to tighter eligibility rules, increased cost-shifting, and limited coverage choices.

The complete report, "Decade of Decline: A Survey of Employer Health Coverage in New York State" can be accessed by clicking here.

Prior Approval of Health Insurance Premium Adjustments Reinstated

Yesterday both chambers of the New York State Legislature approved a package of massive statewide health care spending cuts as part of Governor Paterson's emergency budget bill.  New York City nursing homes, hospitals, and other health care programs will be hit hard by the cuts, with many set to lose out on millions of dollars.  Many New York hospitals will also lose out on federal matching subsidies as a result of the state cuts, meaning greater losses than stated in the state's budget package.

A separate bill was also passed that, effective October 1, 2010, requires health insurers to receive prior approval of premium rate adjustments from the State Department of Insurance.  Health insurance plans sold in the individual and small group markets will also be required to experience medical loss ratios of 82 percent.

Click here to read more about this development from the New York Times.

Accredited Office-Based Surgery Practices in New York State

The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) has launched a web portal that lists, by county, accredited office-based surgery practices. According to the NYS DOH website:

"Effective July 14, 2009, physician offices that perform surgical or invasive procedures using more than mild sedation must be accredited by one of these agencies:

• Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
• American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF)
• The Joint Commission (TJC) "
  

The website can be found here.