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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Misha Sharp, Assistant Director of Policy at 32BJ Health Fund on Resolution 822 and the Fair Pricing Act

1:45:02

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91 sec

Misha Sharp from 32BJ Health Fund testified in support of Resolution 822, which calls for the New York State Legislature to pass the Fair Pricing Act. The Act aims to lower and standardize prices for routine healthcare services, potentially saving New York over a billion dollars annually.

The Fair Pricing Act would ensure that the same procedure costs the same regardless of whether it's performed in a doctor's office or hospital outpatient clinic.
The legislation could create over $200 million in savings directly for New Yorkers by lowering out-of-pocket costs.
Safety net and public hospitals are exempt from the Fair Pricing Act, as they are not the hospitals charging the highest prices.

Misha Sharp

1:45:02

Great.

1:45:03

Thank you council member Schulman and committee members for the opportunity to testify.

1:45:07

My name is Misha Sharp and I'm the assistant director of policy for thirty two b j health fund.

1:45:12

We provide health benefits to over 200,000 32BJ union members and their families using contributions from over 5,000 employers.

1:45:20

For many years we have talked about the rising prices at New York City hospitals which drive up the cost of health benefits and squeeze workers wages.

1:45:27

For too long, purchasers and patients have been expected to shoulder the burden of skyrocketing hospital prices.

1:45:34

New York needs to act immediately to lower commercial hospital prices and to slow those increases over time.

1:45:40

Today, we thank Councilmember Schulman for introducing Resolution eight twenty two, calling on the New York State Legislature to pass the Fair Pricing Act being sponsored by Senator Krueger and Assembly Member Jackson.

1:45:51

The Fair Pricing Act would lower prices for routine health care services so that the same procedure costs the same price regardless of whether that care is delivered in a doctor's office or a hospital outpatient clinic.

1:46:03

This legislation would create over a billion dollars in savings for New York in one year with over 200,000,000 directly back to New Yorkers by lowering out of pocket costs.

1:46:14

Safety net and public hospitals are notably exempt from the Fair Pricing Act because these are not the hospitals charging New Yorkers the highest prices.

1:46:21

We can't let the fear of the problems faced by struggling safety net hospitals prevent us from taking common sense action to rein in the highest prices that leave our healthcare market vulnerable to profit seeking behavior.

1:46:33

Thank you for your time.

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Testimony by Isabel Friedman, Environmental Health Advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council