HEALTH CARE EXPERTS, LABOR LEADERS, & ELECTED OFFICIALS CONVENE TO SOUND THE ALARM ON THE HOSPITAL AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, PRESENT BLUEPRINT FOR VIABLE SOLUTIONS
High Hospital Prices Led To 32BJ Health Fund Being Charged Hundreds of Millions Above Medicare –
If New York City’s Experience was the Same, the City’s Number May Be More Than $2 Billion a Year
New York, NY – On Thursday, March 17, 2022, the 32BJ Health Fund will host a diverse group of health care policy experts, elected officials, labor leaders, and advocates for a timely and critical discussion about the affordability crisis caused by an alarming rise in prices for care at private hospital systems.
The virtual event will coincide with the release of a new Health Fund report on hospital prices that found that the 32BJ Health Fund was charged $1.1 billion above Medicare prices from 2016-2019. If New York City’s cost utilization and expenditure breakdown mirror the Fund’s, then the city may be paying more than $2 billion per year above what Medicare pays for the same hospital services and could significantly rein in those costs by implementing a solution like group purchasing.
By taking action to address the hospital pricing crisis, the 32BJ Health Fund and other purchasers like New York City and State can help to protect access to affordable, high-quality care for health plan participants.
Panelists will explore possible strategies including price controls, group purchasing coalitions & rate regulations, global budgets, and healthcare cost benchmarks. Health Fund Director Cora Opsahl will moderate the discussion.
Opening remarks will be presented by UFT President Mike Mulgrew; Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ SEIU and Chair of the 32BJ Health Fund; Henry Garrido, Executive Director, DC 37.
For more information, please contact helen@marathonstrategies.com
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WHO*:
- Michael Mulgrew, President, UFT
- Kyle Bragg, President, 32BJ SEIU
- Henry Garrido, Executive Director, DC37
- Cora Opsahl, 32BJ Health Fund Director
- Suzanne Delbanco, Executive Director, Catalyst for Payment Reform
- Claire Brockbank, Chief Executive Officer, Peak Health Alliance
- Howard Rothschild, President, Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations
- Marilyn Bartlett, Senior Policy Fellow, NASHP
- Naomi Zewde, Assistant Professor, CUNY School of Public Health
WHAT:
32BJ Virtual Forum on Healthcare Affordability and Hospital Prices
WHERE:
WHEN:
Thursday, March 17, 2022
12:00 – 1:30 pm