Big Budget Wins!

NYS released the budget agreement last week, and there are big wins for health care included in it in three main ways:

1. 1. Insurance is now more affordable for New Yorkers with low-to-moderate-income. This means that people who now live just above the limit for Medicaid but are still within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (which comes out to $23,000 yearly for an individual or $42,000 for a family of four) can still have access to cheaper healthcare thanks to the Basic Health Program (BHP).
   2. They’ve expanded the rights and protections of consumers in need of out-of-network services.
      1. No more “surprise medical bills” when it comes to emergency services.
      2. Out-of-network care available when the network cannot provide the necessary care.
      3. Improved network adequacy because all plans now have the same standard.
      4. Improved information disclosure.
      5. Electronic claims are now accepted.
      6. Continued support for community-based health services such as the Community Health Advocates (CHA) who received $2.5 million.

Want to read more about how these changes affect you? Go ahead and click here to read the full article from HCFANY Blog.