HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORK
Contact: Charlie Albanetti, 518.595.9047
Media Advisory for
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Advocates to Albany Leaders: What’s the Hold Up on the Health Insurance Exchange Law?
State May Lose Out On Millions in Federal Dollars without Action
Albany, NY – On Wednesday, members of the Health Care for All New York coalition and other health groups will release an open letter to Governor Cuomo, Senator Skelos and Speaker Silver urging them to quickly enact legislation establishing New York’s Health Insurance Exchange, as required under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in March of 2010.
Dozens of health care advocates will be present to call on New York’s elected officials to maintain the state’s tradition of national leadership on health care by passing legislation creating an Exchange. Under the ACA, the State is in line to get millions of federal grant funds to set up an Exchange that helps consumers and small businesses find and use affordable, quality health coverage. Federal funding should be secured this year before Congress acts to terminate this funding opportunity in the upcoming budget fight. The state must enact legislation to create the Exchange before the legislative session ends on June 20th in order to get this federal funding and to have the Exchange operational for consumers and small businesses by 2013.
Who: AARP, American Cancer Society, Children’s Defense Fund of NY, Citizen Action of New York, Community Health Care Association of New York State, Community Service Society of NY, Empire Justice Center, Medicaid Matters, Metro Health Care for All Campaign, New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, Make the Road New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, Small Business Majority, Western NY Health Care Coalition and more.
When: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 – 11:00 am
Where: LCA Press Room 130, Legislative Office Building, Albany
Visual: dozens of advocates, blown up US tracking map and timeline for Insurance Exchange
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