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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ryan Manganelli, Senior Manager of Policy at 32BJ Health Fund
4:13:16
·
106 sec
Ryan Manganelli from 32BJ Health Fund testified about the rising healthcare costs in New York City, particularly focusing on hospital prices. He urged the city council to address this issue and ensure continued funding for the Office of Healthcare Accountability.
- Highlighted that hospital prices, especially at large academic medical centers, are driving up healthcare costs
- Cited specific examples of price increases at NYU Langone and New York Presbyterian hospitals
- Called for the city council to confront large hospitals about their pricing and its impact on working people
- Emphasized the importance of fully funding and staffing the Office of Healthcare Accountability under Local Law 78
Ryan Manganelli
4:13:16
Thank you chairs Brannan and Schulman and committee members for the opportunity to testify.
4:13:20
My name is Ryan Manganelli and I'm a senior manager of policy at the thirty two BJ Health Fund.
4:13:26
We provide health care benefits to over 200,032 BJ union members and their families using contributions from over 5,000 employers.
4:13:35
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.
4:13:43
Over the last two years, we have worked with members of this committee to establish a fully resourced office of health care accountability.
4:13:50
In March, we received the office's first report on health care cost drivers and hospital prices.
4:13:55
The report shows the same pattern we have seen elsewhere.
4:13:59
Hospital prices are driving untenably high health care costs.
4:14:03
The report also showed in New York City, this is driven by several large academic medical centers with outsized market power.
4:14:11
From 2022 to 2024, the city's employee health plan spending increased 11% at NYU Langone hospitals and 20% at New York Presbyterian hospitals, where an average inpatient admission costs over $92,000.
4:14:26
We can see where the problem lies and we need to act with urgency to solve it.
4:14:30
We urge the city council to call the largest hospitals to the table to answer for these prices and their impact on working people.
4:14:38
We also call on the city council administration to ensure the office of health care accountability continues to be fully funded and staffed to fulfill its duties under local law 78.
4:14:47
As the city anticipates federal funding cuts and continued rising health care costs, the office of health care accountability's role in identifying potential savings due to overspending on high hospital prices is critical now more than ever.
4:15:01
Thank you very much.