Local governments have been dealing with skyrocketing health insurance costs for years. Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) has introduced a bill (A.8362-A) to allow municipalities such as towns, villages, and school districts to join county self-insured health plans as a way to drive down costs. This legislation would bring more members into a county’s self-insured plan and will spread the risk across a wider number of employees, reducing costs accordingly. The bill is sponsored in the Senate (S.6633) by Sen. Joseph A. Griffo (R-Rome). “Our governor has spoken forcefully of the need to share services or consolidate local units of government,” said Assemblymember Steck. “This bill does exactly that by enabling local governments of all types and sizes to join county self-insured health plans. Self-insured plans have a history of costing less and saving taxpayers money.” “I talk often about removing obstacles to growth. This regulation stands in the way of a common-sense idea – taking advantage of economies of scale by allowing local governments to join county self-insured health plans,” said Senator Griffo. “We're putting caps on taxes and asking localities to take less from their people. Well, here's a way they can save money and provide a plan that costs less to the beneficiary and is sometimes more robust. I'm pleased to carry this bill and I will work with my colleagues to make the case that reducing these regulatory barriers is exactly what we should be doing.” “This bill enables smaller governments and school districts to join a county’s self-insured plan. It is just one way to increase efficiencies and produce savings, for local governments and the counties,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “This is important because in a time of tax cap budgeting and the drive for consolidation as Governor Cuomo has talked about, we need to think outside the box and work to cut costs and save taxpayer dollars.” “Dutchess County needs the flexibility to continue to work with other local governments within the county to reduce costs and operate more efficiently,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro, who has instituted multiple shared service opportunities within the county, including an unprecedented $1 million grant program to incentive municipal consolidation and shared services. “Working together with our local municipalities, we have already delivered tremendous savings to local taxpayers through the expansion of our Worker Compensation pool. This new proposal from NYSAC will remove a barrier to local government cooperation on health insurance – one of the fastest growing costs facing local governments across the state.” “Thank you Assemblyman Steck for sponsoring legislation that will create another way for Schenectady County to partner with other local governments and our school districts to reduce costs and provide meaningful tax relief to our residents,” said Anthony Jasenski, Sr., Chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “Schenectady County is proud to have one of the most successful healthcare cost-containment strategies in New York State - saving over $10 million annually for the taxpayers of Schenectady County. We are excited by the opportunity to share these strategies with our colleagues and bring proven meaningful savings to other local municipalities and our school districts.” “The state has challenged local governments to do more shared services. We are challenging the state to reform the archaic and unnecessary barriers that have prevented us from working together on behalf of our taxpayers,” said Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director, New York State Association of Counties. “The present insurance law (article 47) has been on the books now for 20 years. It needs to be repealed because it has not served its purpose and has done nothing to help reduce the costs at the local level.” Allowing municipalities to join self-insured plans would be a great benefit, Steck noted, as some municipalities are too small to self-insure, and these plans are significantly less expensive than community rated plans. Others who have already self-insured can realize greater efficiencies by joining with the county plan, since spreading the risk among more employees lowers health insurance costs. Some who are large enough to self-insure can avoid the initial costs of doing so by joining existing County self-insured plans. “There are currently some regulatory barriers to accomplishing this very desirable result in the best interest of taxpayers,” said Assemblymember Steck. “This bill eliminates those regulatory barriers. Also, it should be pointed out that our local health plans will still play a role in the process, as they are hired by self-insurers to administer claims, which of course they do more effectively than County government.” ______________________________________________________________________ Local officials at today’s Press Conference: Assemblymember Phil Steck
Senator Joseph Griffo
NYSAC Executive Director Steve Acquario
Chair, Schenectady County Legislature Anthony Jasenski, Sr.
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy
Schenectady County Attorney Christopher Gardner
Albany County Legislature Majority Leader Frank Commisso
Niskayuna Supervisor Joe Landry
City of Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy
Schenectady City Council President Peggy King
South Colonie Superintendent Jon Buhner
Albany County Legislator Joe O’Brien