Activists ask speaker to put single-payer health care bill to a vote on the Assembly floor
By Kelly Fay
Lawmakers, patients and health providers are urging the Legislature to pass a bill they say would provide every New Yorker with the basic human right to health care.
Advocates rallied outside the Capitol last week demanding the state adopt a single-payer system of health insurance and put "patients before profits."
The universal health insurance bill, also known as New York Health, would streamline coverage for New Yorkers by replacing existing private and state health care programs with one universal program paid for by the federal and state governments. In order to do so, the state will need a waiver so that federal funding streams for specific programs can be pooled and applied toward statewide health coverage.
The concept for the bill (A.5389-a/S.2078-a) was initially introduced 23 years ago, and passed in the Assembly in 1992. However, it has not been brought to the floor for a vote since. Currently, New York Health has received the official support of 72 Assembly members, but activists are confident it would pass if a vote is allowed.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-05-12-87873.113122-Activists-ask-speaker-to-put-singlepayer-health-care-bill-to-a-vote-on-the-Assembly-floor.html
