Chamber of commerce leaders offered their takes on the new federal health legislation at the request of HV Biz.
Pete Bardunias, executive director, Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce
“I”™m very concerned about the lack of information available to our businesses. The Federal government has apparently gone ahead with a major sea change in health policy without adequately considering the impact on small business or on local hospitals and medical providers.Â
“In a recent discussion with Putnam Hospital, the concern our hospitals will be presented with include a conundrum of difficult rules and regulations to wade through in providing adequate care for patients; issues related to multiple hospital stays; and Medicare reimbursement. These issues are on the forefront.
“The regulatory and financial impacts on small businesses are all unclear. Since 90-plus percent of the businesses in my chamber have five employees or less, this is very unsettling.”
John D”™Ambrosio, president and CEO, Orange County Chamber of Commerce
“As a Chamber, our job is to separate fact from supposition, so we”™re planning a series of meetings devoted to the new health care legislation and its effect on businesses, especially smaller firms. The bottom line is that it”™s becoming law, so it”™s time for us to cope with it appropriately. It”™s not just an intellectual issue, it”™s also a very emotional one and many people are filled with fear about it.
“There is a great deal of uncertainty and misunderstanding about the legislation. Everyone is confused, especially our small businesses. These companies in particular have serious concerns about how it”™s going to affect them financially, especially here in New York where we”™re already over-taxed and over-regulated. It could well be that this will be the straw that breaks the camel”™s back.”
Ann Meagher, president and CEO, Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce
“First of all, it”™s a complicated law, not easily understood by many. What we do understand is companies will have to extend coverage to employees”™ children up to age 26, remove some restrictions on pre-existing medical conditions and offer preventative services such as cancer screening gratis, among other things.
“The new law will impose taxes and penalties on businesses that don”™t offer health coverage, and as I understand it, even those that do. Suffice to say that the information that”™s out there now is quite concerning. And of course, it didn”™t include any tort reform whatsoever; medical malpractice reform should have been a major component of this legislation, but the issue was ignored.
“To begin to share information, we hosted an event the first week of July with Congressmen John Hall of New York and Rob Andrews of New Jersey. Andrews was a key point person in the House on this issue by way of his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), where he took a lead role in shaping the federal health reform bill.”
Joyce Minard, president and CEO, New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce
“We recently held a webinar for members giving an overview of the new health care legislation. It is imperative each industry knows how its organization will be impacted once this legislation starts hitting home.
There are two sides to this ”“ on one side, some employers will be severely affected; they may have to let someone go in order to meet criteria of new reform. On the other, employees with no insurance will benefit. The truth is, we really don”™t know how we”™ll be affected. These educational seminars will help and we encourage our members to review their health care programs and see what steps need to be taken so they won”™t be penalized.
“Since New York has some of the health care legislation”™s provisions already in effect, Which will take precedence? If the cost is spread out across the states, we may shoulder more than our fair share. There are potential penalties.”
Charles North, president and CEO, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce
“Nothing is cast in stone. As far as I”™m concerned, we haven”™t really gotten the total story. I”™m relying on the professionals in the insurance business to help us guide our members through this. It”™s hard to assist people when you”™re not sure what”™s coming down the pike. We have to be sure every member of our business community knows how it affects them directly ”“ it impacts differently on each industry.Â
“I don”™t think this is the health care everyone wanted. Some unfinished business needs to be accomplished. When the professionals can understand it better, we”™ll be able to help our business owners. I”™m not ready to suggest anything to them. We need to keep them apprised of what”™s gong on-that”™s the best we can do right now. Health care professionals are working to bring this to the business community in an informative and understandable way.”
Ward Todd, president and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County
“For the past several years, health insurance access and affordability has been an issue of importance to our members. Despite the fact the new legislation is on the books, there remain many questions for small business owners.
“We know that many employers are planning their 2011 benefit plans right now and we caution them to not change their current plans since guidance on the so-called ”˜grandfathered plans”™ has not yet been issued. That means that private plans may lose their grandfathered status if changes are made. Guidance is expected shortly on several issues including what triggers a loss of grandfathered status; how changes required in 2010 will impact the status of grandfathered plans; annual lifetime limits; coverage for adult children up to age 26; and the reinsurance option.
“While we wait for clarification on these issues, we believe it is prudent to not change the health insurance coverage businesses currently offer.”
Al Samuels, president and CEO, Rockland Business Association
“We put information on our website back in April. The headline: ”˜Health Care news just got worse.”™
“The information contained in it came from chief actuary for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid, an agency under the auspices of the Secretary of Health of Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.
“According to that report, health care costs will go up, not down. Health care shortages are plausible and even probable. Fourteen-million employees currently having health care will lose employer coverage. Two-million employees who lose their coverage will have to enroll in Medicaid. Ten percent of all insured workers will see health care plans taxed. The higher taxes will lead to higher premiums; hospitals will suffer and seniors will see a reduction in services.
“We are reading reports from all media that hospitals and health care facilities are fearful they will not be able to handle the overload. Just because people will have insurance doesn”™t mean they are going to have a physician ”“ they”™ll still be driven to ER for their basic care.”
“What do I think? I think it stinks!”
Marsha Gordon, president and CEO, Business Council of Westchester
“We are actively engaged in the health care debate. We recently hosted a seminar on this new legislation and its impact, which was well-attended by our members.
“While it is clear the legislation will improve to access to individuals on many levels, we are concerned about the cost of implementation, which will most likely put upward pressure on premiums. In addition, the tax free nature of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums is questionable going forward.
“We are also disappointed it does not address tort reform,  a major driver of health insurance costs. We are waiting for the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the NYS Department of Insurance; that will give us more guidance and clarify the issues. We will continue to engage with our members, which includes the health care community, to interpret the new requirements.”
William Mooney, president and CEO, Westchester County Association
It is impossible to assess all of the implications to the business community of the almost 2,000 -page federal health care reform bill, especially as specific regulations are still being drafted.Â
“First, the process and communication around the passage of this bill left a lot to be desired. Not one constituent group we spoke with was in favor of the proposed bill. To me, that means it is either a bad bill or a poorly communicated one ”“ possibly, both.
“Costs to businesses will go up. We do not know by how much, whether in the form of increased premiums before the federal bill kicks in or in terms of as yet undefined fees or penalties once the new legislation is in place.
“In my opinion, it does nothing to change the basic imbalances that exist today between health insurers, healthcare providers and patients. While it is a wonderful and necessary goal to provide more people with access to health care by providing them insurance, it does nothing in terms of governance of the industry that will insure them.Â
“By insuring more people, does that help our hospitals and doctors receive more equitable reimbursements? Does it help them get the technology they need such as electronic medical records? Does it change the paradigm of for-profit health insurers, with their fiduciary responsibilities to maximize profits for shareholders, squaring off against not-for-profit healthcare providers with their primary responsibility of saving lives? I do not think so.”
Jack Condlin, president and CEO, Stamford (Conn.) Chamber of Commerce
“First and foremost, it was not something we supported. It put an additional burden on the backs of small business ”“ with the economy the way it is, small business will be leader in job growth over the next few years.
“Once it was passed, we put together a program with Connecticut Industry & Business Assn. sponsored by Stamford Hospital; we put together a panel of experts to talk about the specific impact.Â
“There are a lot of conflicts concerning current state laws already in place and the new legislation. Does federal law supersede state law?
“Bottom line? We didn”™t need this now … people wanted financial reform. The legislation is still unfolding, and as it starts to come into play, we”™ll get to see how it pans out.”
