New York state legislators and stakeholders are debating a bill that would overhaul the state's health system and establish a single-payer system, Spectrum News reported Feb. 9.
Lawmakers have mulled the legislation, the New York Health Act, for years. The system would be funded by graduated taxes based on income, according to Spectrum News.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Democrat from the Bronx borough in New York City, told Spectrum News the proposed legislation would "move away completely" from private insurance providers.
"The notion of premiums, the notion of out-of-pocket costs, the notion of networks, these are all the things that insurance companies rely on and want to continue to push on us," Mr. Rivera said.
Labor union leaders are opposed to the proposal, concerned it would jeopardize the quality of coverage negotiated in contracts.
Representatives for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul did not comment to Spectrum News on her position on the legislation.
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