Official Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act here in New York:
(as of October 15, 2010)

1. In late May, Governor Paterson created an interagency Health Care Reform Cabinet, jointly led by the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and the Department of Insurance, and also including the following other agencies.

• Department of Health
• Department of Insurance
• Divison of the Budget
• Department of Civil Service
• Department of Taxation and Finance
• Department of Labor
• Office for Technology
• Office of Temporary and Disability Insurance
• Office of Mental Health
• Office of Developmental Disabilities
• Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
• Office for the Aging
• Office of the Medicaid Inspector General
• Office of Children and Family Services

The Dept. of Health is leading 6 teams focusing on:

• Eligibility and enrollment provisions
• Long-term care provisions
• System reform provisions
• Public health provisions
• Community health center provisions
• Reimbursement reform provisions

The Dept. of Insurance is leading 3 teams focusing on:

• Statutory reforms to commercial insurance provisions
• “Bridge” provisions (temporary until 2014)
• Coverage and rate provisions

 The Cabinet has laid out the following timeline for ACA implementation through 2014:

• 2010: develop a blueprint for implementation; draft governance legislation for Exchange
• 2011: enact governance legislation; develop initial budgets; develop RFPs and new regulations; develop state plan amendments for Medicaid
• 2012: begin construction of Exchange; develop plans for its operation, and capacity for administration; develop marketing plans for it
• 2013: received federal approval to operate Exchange, and finish its crafting
• 2014: open Exchange; expand Medicaid to new required populations

2. In late August, Governor Paterson established a Health Care Reform Advisory Committee to advise his Cabinet. Of the member groups, 3 are unions, 14 are from advocacy groups, 5 are business groups, 7 are provider groups, 5 are insurer groups, and there are 2 foundations. 

Organizations serving on this committee include:

• 1199 SEIU
• AFL-CIO
• Business and Labor Coalition
• Business Council of NYS
• Centerstate CEO
• Chamber Alliance of New York State
• Children’s Defense Fund
• Coalition of New York State Public Health Plans
• Community Health Care Association of New York State
• Community Service Society
• Consumer Directed Choices
• Empire Justice Center
• Family Planning Advocates
• Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency
• Greater New York Hospital Association
• Health Care for All New York
• Healthcare Association of New York State
• Hispanic Federation
• Medicaid Matters
• Medical Society of State of New York
• Medicare Rights Center
• National Black Leadership Commision on AIDS
• New York Health Plan Association
• New York Immigration Coalition
• New York State Association of Counties
• New York State Assocation of Health Underwriters
• New York State Conference of Blue Cross Plans
• New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
• New York State Health Foundation
• New Yorkers for Accesible Health Coverage
• Office of the Mayor of New York City
• P2 Collaborative of Western New York
• Partnership for New York City
• Project CHARGE
• United Hospital Fund
• Visiting Nurse Service of New York
• Young Invincibles

The Committee held its inaugural meeting on Sept. 16 at the Capitol in Albany.  The agenda included:

• Overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• The state’s formal structure for implementation of the ACA
• The role of the Advisory Committee, and proposed working groups which may include other stakeholders beyond the officially-designated committee members
• An update on implementation activities to date, and timeline projecting forward to 2014
• Plans public outreach and education about the ACA
• Moving forward to begin work to establish a new state-based health insurance exchange

The Committee’s next meeting is Oct. 25 at the Capitol in Albany. Agenda TBA.

3.To date, the state has begun the following new programs per the ACA:

• New procedures for prior approval of insurance premium rate increases
• New medical-loss ratio standards
• New “New York Bridge” insurance program for people with pre-existing medical conditions (temporary until 2014) see Dept. of Insurance website for further info
• New early retiree re-insurance program for state and local government workers covered through the NYSHIP program

4. To date, the state has applied or is anticipated to apply to the federal government for the following grants under the ACA (as of Sept. 15, 2010):

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
• Consumer Assistant Program Grants
• Emerging Infections Program/Enhancing Epidemiology and Lab Capacity
• Long-Term Care
• Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
• Premium Rate Review
• State Planning and Establishment Grants for Insurance Exchanges
• States’ Health Professional Workforce Planning
• Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcome
• Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens and Women

5. State website for implementation information:  www.healthcarereform.ny.gov

6. Email list for implementation updates:  healthcarereform@chamber.state.ny.us

7. Overview from the New York State Health Foundationwww.nyshealthfoundation.org