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New York State Assembly, Health Committee: What's Happening?
ACTION ITEM JUNE 2007
02/06/2007: President Bush Endorses Government Negotiation For Lower Prescription Drug Prices
U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to the President’s request for legislation that would allow states to negotiate with drug manufacturers for cheaper prescription drugs.
02/05/2007
MANAGED CARE REFORM LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Several bills have been introduced in the last week to address a myriad of concerns raised by physicians with respect to their relationship with managed care plans, including:
- A.4324 (Magnarelli) – Decreases from 45 to 30 days the time within which a health plan must pay a claim; shortens from 30 to 15 days the time within which a health plan must make a request for more information; and requires health plans to update every 6 months its list of which claims require additional documentation. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee
- A.4468 (Bradley) – Requires health insurers to honor assignment of benefits made by patients to non-participating providers. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee.
- S.2439 (Hannon) – Requires health insurers to include in their networks any provider who is located within the geographic coverage area of the health benefit plan and who is willing to meet the terms and conditions for participation established by the health insurer. The bill has been referred to the Senate Health Committee.
DEADLINE FOR OBTAINING NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIERS
Covered health care providers have until May 23, 2007, to obtain National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers. The NPI is a unique identification number for health care providers that will be used by all health plans for claims and other submissions required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). The numeric identifier will never expire or change and it will be administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). To learn more, go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/npi/01_overview.asp.
Medical Liability Reform Legislation Defeated
The U.S. Senate brought two medical liability bills to the floor, but both were defeated on May 8, 2006. The first bill, the Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2006 (S. 22), sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), would have capped jury awards in all lawsuits against doctors and health care institutions. The second bill, the Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2005 (S. 366), sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), would have applied caps only to cases involving obstetricians. The National Medical Association is on record as supporting similar past bills. |
