S2996-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
• Feb 4, 2011: REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

S2996-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2996

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the civil service law, in relation to increasing local
government participation in the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan

PURPOSE:
This bill would permit eligible agencies (counties, cities,
towns, villages, school districts or other municipal entities) to
participate in the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan without being
required to also become a participating agency under both the medical
and drug plans provided by the New York State Health Insurance Plan
(NYSHIP).

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends the Civil Service law by adding a new
section 163-b authorizing counties, cities, towns, villages, school
districts or other municipal entities to participate solely in the
Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan.
The Department of Civil Service will promulgate rules and regulations
for participation in such plan.

EXISTING LAW:
NYSHIP offers its participating employers a prescription
drug benefit that provides coverage for drugs dispensed through
retail pharmacies and via mail order. Employers who do not
participate in NYSHIP are currently not allowed to participate in the
Empire Plan's drug benefit.

JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation will allow counties, cities, towns, villages, school
districts or other municipal entities, many who do not participate in
NYSHIP, to buy-in to its comparatively less expensive Empire
prescription drug plan, without having to buy into the whole
medical/hospital NYSHIP plan.

NYSHIP offers its participating employers a prescription drug benefit
that provides coverage for drugs dispensed through retail pharmacies
and via mail order. Employers who do not participate in NYSHIP are
currently not allowed to participate in the Empire Plan's drug benefit.

The bill recommends legislation to authorizing non-NYSHIP employers be
allowed to opt into a stand-alone prescription drug plan utilizing
the Empire Plan's contracts and structure.

* The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) was established
in 1957 for State employees. The next year, NYSHIP opened to local
governments and school districts. Now, more than 50 years later,
NYSHIP is the largest public employer health insurance program in the
nation, outside the Federal government. NYSHIP protects over 1.2
million State and local government employees, retirees and their
families.
* 800 local government entities have already joined NYSHIP.
* They count on the dependability and financial stability that come
from NYSHIP's size, experience and $4.7 billion annual premium.


This is a modification of a recommendation from the Task Force on
Retiree Health Insurance.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Possible cost
savings to counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts or
other municipal entities who opt-in to the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 days after it shall become law.

S2996-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2996
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 February 4, 2011
 
 Introduced  by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
 

AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to  increasing  local
 government participation in the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 163-b to read as follows:

 

S 163-B. EMPIRE PLAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN. THE PRESIDENT, AS DEFINED
 IN  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  SECTION  TWO OF THIS CHAPTER, IS AUTHORIZED TO
 PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PERMITTING ELIGIBLE AGENCIES TO PARTIC
 IPATE IN THE EMPIRE PLAN  PRESCRIPTION  DRUG  PLAN  WITHOUT  BECOMING  A
 PARTICIPATING AGENCY UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08328-02-1

*By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and Privacy Policy and verify you are over 13.

Discuss!