Should New York Ban Wildlife Killing Contests?

Season 2023 Episode 33 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

Should New York Ban Wildlife Killing Contests? And an Eye on Health Insurance in NY

The state Legislature in New York has passed a bill that would ban wildlife killing contests in the state, sparking some controversy and misinformation; Lawmakers also considered legislation related to health insurance and health care this year, while insurance companies propose higher rates for consumers.

08/18/2023 | Rating NR

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Should New York Ban Wildlife Killing Contests?

Season 2023 Episode 33 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

08/18/2023 | Rating NR

Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

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[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," A BILL THAT WOULD BAN WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS HAS PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT THERE'S SOME CONFUSION OVER THE BILL. WE'LL BREAK IT DOWN WITH BRIAN SHAPIRO, NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. AND LATER, HEALTH CARE IS EXPENSIVE AND SO IS HEALTH INSURANCE. WE'LL DIVE INTO THE INDUSTRY WITH ERIC LINZER FROM THE NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN ASSOCIATION. I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW.

" [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW.

" I'M DAN CLARK. IT'S THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, WHICH MEANS WE'RE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS OUT FROM NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND IF YOU'RE NOT KEEPING TRACK, WE'RE ABOUT TWO MONTHS OUT FROM THE END OF THE LAST ONE, AND IT WAS A BIG ONE. LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS PASSED 896 BILLS THIS YEAR. THOUGH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT'S ACTUALLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR WHEN THEY PASSED 1,009 BILLS WHICH WAS THE MOST PASSED IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN NEW YORK IN AT LEAST TWO DECADES. WE CHECKED AND SOME YEARS, BUT IN THE ALL, LAWMAKERS WILL MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO ALBANY OUTSIDE SESSION TO PASS A FEW BILLS IF THEY FEEL THEY HAVE A GOOD REASON. LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN LAWMAKERS CAME BACK TO ALBANY TO PASS NEW GUN LAWS AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE STATE'S CONCEAL CARRY STATUTE, BUT THIS YEAR, THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKELY, AT LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW. SOME HAVE CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE TO RETURN TO ALBANY FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS, INCLUDING THE STATE'S MIGRANT CRISIS. SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE TOLD REPORTERS IN ALBANY THIS WEEK THAT THERE ARE NO PLANS TO RETURN SAYING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PLAYING A LARGER ROLE IN MANAGING THE CRISIS. >> I THINK RIGHT NOW THE STATE AND PARTICULARLY THE CITY OF NEW YORK JUST TRYING TO PLAY CATCH-UP AND EVERY TIME I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT THIS CRIES, I THINK WE REALLY DO NEED HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THERE'S NO WAY THE STATE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY DEAL WITH THIS-- THE MIGRANT CRISIS WITHOUT FEDERAL INTERVENTION. >> AND WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM SPEAKER HASTY WHEN HE JOINS US ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW, BUT FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW, WE WANTED TO DIVE INTO A FEW ISSUES WE DON'T USUALLY COVER. ONE OF THEM IS HEALTH INSURANCE, WHICH WE'LL GET TO A LITTLE LATER, BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS IN NEW YORK. IF YOU LIVE IN A CITY, YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS AND HONESTLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS MIGHT NOT EITHER AND FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW ANY VISUALS OF THIS FOR VIEWERS SENSITIVE TO VIOLENCE BUT EVERY YEAR IN NEW YORK, THERE ARE CONTESTS HELD AROUND THE STATE TO KILL WILDLIFE AND NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REGULAR HUNTING. WHEN YOU GO OUT FOR A DAY WITH A FEW FRIENDS DURING THE REGULAR HUNTING SEASON. THESE ARE CONTESTS, SOMETIMES WITH PRIZES WHERE THE GOAL IS OFTEN TO KILL THE MOST ANIMALS OR A CERTAIN KIND OF ANIMAL AND FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, LAWMAKERS WHO OPPOSE THOSE CONTESTS ARE HAVE TRIED TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THEM AND THIS YEAR, THAT FINALLY HAPPENED SO NOW IT'S UP TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL TO EITHER SIGN THE BILL AND BAN THE CONTESTS OR VETO IT AND KEEP THEM GOING, BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE BILL WITH CRITICS SAYING IT TARGETS HUNTING AT LARGE. IT DOES NOT, BY THE WAY, AND WE'LL ADD A LINK TO THE BILL ON OUR WEBSITE IN CASE YOU WANT TO READ IT YOURSELVES, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO GO DEEPER AND EXPLAIN HOW THE BILL WOULD WORK AND WHAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY DO. SO THIS WEEK, WE TURNED TO BRIAN SHAPIRO, NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES TO LEARN MORE. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> BRIAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN. >> OF COURSE, ANYTIME. SO THESE WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS ARE IN THE NEW IN NEW YORK AND THIS BILL IS ALSO NOT NEW IN NEW YORK. IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT IT PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS THIS YEAR, MEANING IT NOW GOES TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL. WAS THERE ANYTHING THIS YEAR THAT YOU THINK PROMPTED THE BILL THAT YOU THINK GAINED ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS? >> I THINK THERE'S TWO FACTORS IN SEEING THIS BILL PASS WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN BOTH HOUSES AND NOW AS YOU MENTIONED, IT WILL BE CALLED BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL. THE FIRST ONE IS MORE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS. THIS IS NOT JUST THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES FOCUSING ON THIS. THERE'S MANY OTHER GROUPS. SO MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTING THIS. SO CONCERNED BY THE PUBLIC AS THE PUBLIC BECOMES MORE AWARE OF THESE CASH FOR WILDLIFE COMPETITIONS, I THINK ANOTHER TURNING POINT WAS IN 2020 WHEN THE HSUS RELEASED AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION OF THE STATE'S LARGEST WILDLIFE KILLING CONTEST, WHICH OCCURS IN SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW YORK. VERY GRAPHIC AND OUR INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT THE ANIMALS WERE THROWN INTO DUMPSTERS AND BY GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT, I THINK ALSO ELECTED OFFICIALS, A LOT OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT I SPOKE WITH THEIR FIRST REACTION WAS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ALLOWED, AND IT IS ALLOWED, AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN FACTORS AS TO WHY WE SAW THIS FINALLY MOVE. I'M GOING INTO MY 12TH YEAR AS THE STATE DIRECTOR AND THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE PLATE AS ONE OF THE BILLS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. >> CAN YOU KIND OF LAY OUT WHAT KINDS OF CONTESTS THIS BILL IS TARGETING? I THINK THERE'S SOME INFORMATION AND CONFUSION THAT IT'S TARGETING HUNTING AT LARGE, WHICH IT'S VERY MUCH NOT DOING. SO CAN YOU LAY OUT WHAT WOULD BE BANNED ON THIS BILL? >> ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS IS NOT SUNDAY HUNTING WITH THE FAMILY. THIS IS NOT TRADITIONAL HUNTING THAT MANY OF US ARE ACCUSTOMED TO, THOSE OF US WHO COME FROM RURAL AREAS OR HAVE SPENT TIME IN RURAL AREAS. THE CONCEPT OF A WILDLIFE FOR CASH COMPETITION OR A KILLING CONTEST IS WHERE CONTESTANTS WILL REGISTER, PUT MONEY INTO A POT AND THEN OVER A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME, IT COULD BE A TWO TO THREE-DAY PERIOD, KILL THE MOST, THE HEAVIEST, EVEN THE SMALLEST WILDLIFE. NOW THIS COULD BE FOX. IT COULD BE A WOODCHUCK. IT COULD BE A COYOTE, WHICH ARE OFTEN THE MOST TARGETED VICTIMS IN THESE CONTESTS, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE CONTEST, THE ANIMALS ARE EITHER COUNTED OR WEIGHED AND THEN DISCARDED AS SO MUCH TRASH. THIS IS NOT A WISE USE OF OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BEAR, DEER OR TURKEY, AS THESE SPECIES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN WHAT WE KNOW AS WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS. THEY ARE ALREADY HIGHLY REGULATED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. THERE ARE REGULATIONS FOR REPORTING A NUMBER OF THESE ANIMALS THAT ARE TAKEN WITHIN THE HUNTING SEASONS. SO MANY OF THESE ANIMALS THAT WE SEE, THEY DO NOT HAVE BAG LIMITS AND ONE CAN HUNT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE SO MANY OF THESE ANIMALS USED IN THESE FRINGE COMPETITIONS. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT ANY BAG LIMIT OR HUNTING SEASON. THIS LEGISLATION, THE FOCUS IS ON ONE THING, AND THAT IS TO STOP THE USE OF OUR SHARED NATURAL RESOURCES, OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES, HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, SIMPLY FOR CASH AND PRIZES. THAT IS THE ONLY THING WE DO IN NEW YORK AND WE'D BE THE NINTH STATE TO PUT THIS PROHIBITION IN PLACE. >> YOU KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL BE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW AND ASK, WHY IS THIS A BAD THING? WHY ARE THESE CONTESTS BAD? WHY SHOULD WE BAN THEM? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? >> I WOULD LOOK AT IT-- I WOULD SHARE A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE FIRST ONE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WILDLIFE IS HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE. SO WHEN WE HOLD EXTREME COMPETITIONS WHO CAN SEE WHO CAN KILL THE MOST WILDLIFE OR THE HEAVIEST WILDLIFE, BEYOND THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. HAVE HAVING BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR MANY YEARS, I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ACROSS THE STATE. NOW WHEN ONE IS LICENSED BY THE STATE AS A WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR, SOMEONE WHO-- THEY ARE UNSUNG HEROES. PEOPLE WHO WILL GET CALLED, I FOUND AN INJURED SQUIRREL. >> I CALLED ONE TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT A BIRD IN MY YARD AND THEY GAVE ME EXCELLENT ADVICE. >> THAT INDIVIDUAL, DURING THEIR LICENSING PROCESS, WAS CLEARLY TOLD WILDLIFE BELONGS TO THE STATE, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND CANNOT BE KEPT AND SOLD. SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS A PRECEDENT FOR THAT AND ALSO AND NEW YORK DOES NOT ALLOW BOUNTIES. A STATE ENTITY, IT'S IN OUR LAWS. OUR ECON LAWS CANNOT OFFER BOUNTIES. SO YOU ANY, THESE ARE A NUMBER OF THE REASONS WHY THERE'S A FOCUS ON THIS AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS, HONESTLY, THE BASIC CRUELTY OF THIS, TO HAVE CONTESTS WHERE THERE IS NOT A USE. IT'S A WANTON WASTE OF THESE ANIMALS. ONE CONTEST IN GREENE COUNTY IS REFERRED TO AS THE CROW DOWN CONTESTS. THEY'RE NOT WIDELY ADVERTISED. THEY'RE OFTEN IN CHAT ROOMS. WE FIND THEM ONLINE. PEOPLE WILL SEND US POSTERS. YOU KNOW, FOR THIS PARTICULAR CROW DOWN, MONEY FROM THE POT IS BEING OFFERED FOR ANIMALS, THE POSTER SAYS DEAD OR ALIVE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT KEEPING WITH FAIR CHASE, THE ETHICS AND THE NORMS OF TRADITIONAL HUNTING, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE HUNTING COMMUNITY, WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS, VETERINARIANS, FARMERS AND THE LIST GOES ON. >> WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ENFORCING THESE LAWS? AS I HEAR YOU SAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU FIND THESE THINGS, THEY MIGHT BE ORGANIZED IN A FACEBOOK GROUP OR THROUGH A TEXT MESSAGE CHAIN. >> YES. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THEY'RE GOING ON. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE TASKED WITH ENFORCING IT? ARE THEY LOCAL POLICE? IS IT DEC? >> EXCELLENT QUESTION. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES WHERE THIS BILL HAS PASSED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE HAVE NCON POLICE OUT MARCHING THROUGH THE WOODS. WE'VE SEEN WHEN IT'S MADE-- WHEN IT'S PROHIBITED, THE CONTESTS STOP BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO OUT AND LET'S SAY, THERE'S A SPECIES, FOX, COYOTES, WHERE THERE'S NO BAG LIMIT WITH IN SEASON, ONE CAN HUNT. THAT IS THEIR TRADITION TO HUNT THESE ANIMALS ACCORDING TO WHAT THE BAG LIMIT IS. BUT AS FAR AS THE CONTESTS, THEMSELVES, GO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TAKING THESE ANIMALS AND THIS IS NOT A WISE USE OF OUR SHARED RESOURCES. >> YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING ON THE FLOOR, REALLY SEEMED TO SINGLE OUT COYOTES, SPECIFICALLY, SAYING, WELL, IF WE CAN'T HUNT AS MANY COYOTES THEN PERHAPS THEY MAY KILL MORE SHEEP OR MORE CHICKENS ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT'S THEIR LIVELIHOOD. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE? >> YOU KNOW THIS IS-- THESE ARE EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS. >> RIGHT. >> I UNDERSTAND UNTIL SOMEONE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS THIS WHAT A LOT OF THE CONTESTANTS HAVE BEEN DOING IS SAYING THIS WILL END HUNTING, THAT THERE IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. BUT AS FAR AS PREDATION GOES, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, THE RANDOM REMOVAL OF COYOTES WILL NOT DECREASE POPULATION NUMBERS. IT WILL NOT INCREASE PROTECTION FOR LIVESTOCK AND IT WILL NOT INCREASE DEER DENSITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY HAS SAID THAT THE LARGE-SCALE REMOVAL, IF WE'RE FOCUSING ON COYOTES, WILL NOT REDUCE POPULATIONS AND IS NOT WARRANTED AND IT IS NOT PRACTICAL AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE DEC DOES NOT CONDONE OR SPONSOR THESE EVENTS. >> RIGHT; THIS IS A VERY NARROW BILL AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE HAVE A NARROW BILL THAT'S FOCUSED ON SOMETHING, KIND OF CULTURAL IN THE STATE, CULTURAL DIVIDE BETWEEN UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE A LOT OF THE TIME, POLITICS REALLY INSERTS ITSELF INTO THERE. WHILE THIS BILL WILL NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT MOST NEW YORKERS. IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE THAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM MORE THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT HEADS TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL. SHE'S NOT UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR BUT EVERY THEM MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IS AND EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS AS WELL. MEANING THAT IF PEOPLE ARE MAD AT DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS NEXT YEAR, IT MIGHT REFLECT THAT WAY IN THE POLLS. SO AS THE GOVERNOR'S GETTING READY TO MAKE A DECISION ON IT, ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL THAT POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY OF THIS? AND SHE SAYS, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AND BEHIND THE SCENES IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE BAD FOR MY PARTY. >> YOU KNOW THIS-- THIS BILL HAS GAINED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THERE'S DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT ANY BILL HAS TO GO THROUGH, THROUGH NCON, WENT THROUGH CODES. IN THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, THERE WASN'T DEBATE. IT PASSED WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION. SO FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE POLITICS OF THIS, WE FEEL THIS IS A POPULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT HAS PUBLIC SUPPORT. THE HSUS, OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE ADIRONDACK COUNCIL, NEW YORK STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL, AND OTHER GROUPS, WE FEEL IT'S ACTUALLY A POPULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING AND SUPPORTING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> AND IT'S A BILL THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY BE WATCHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS THE GOVERNOR CONSIDERS IT. BRIAN SHAPIRO, NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> HOCHUL HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT BILL. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN SHE DOES. BUT TURNING NOW TO HEALTH INSURANCE IN NEW YORK. IT'S ABOUT THIS TIME EVERY YEAR THAT THE STATE DECIDES HOW MUCH HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN INCREASE THEIR RATES. THIS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR, LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN THE STATE APPROVED AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF ABOUT 10%, WHICH WAS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, AND THIS YEAR, INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE ASKING FOR A SIMILAR INCREASE, BUT THEY SAY THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT AND POINT, INSTEAD, TO THE RISING COSTS OF HEALTH CARE IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AT THE SAME TIME, PROGRESSIVES IN ALBANY ARE MAKING A FRESH PUSH FOR A HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL WITH THE NEW VERSION OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT. THAT'S A BILL THAT WILL ENACT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE, MEANING THE STATE WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO ARE AGAINST THE BILL AND SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE IS TALKED TO THE ACTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND OTHERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. SO THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH ERIC LINZER, NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW YORK. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ERIC, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN. >> OF COURSE. WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE THAT MUCH ON THIS SHOW. I'M THRILLED TO HAVE YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A FEW BILLS THAT YOU WERE WATCHING THIS YEAR DURING THE SESSION THAT DEAL WITH YOUR INDUSTRY. ONE BILL THAT I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING, IT WOULD REQUIRE DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO GIVE AT LEAST 60 DAYS NOTICE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE THE PRICE OF A DRUG MORE THAN 16%. SO I DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION THAT MUCH TO THE PRICE OF THE MEDICATION THAT I PICK UP AT THE PHARMACY BECAUSE USUALLY IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT I BOUGHT IT FOR THE LAST TIME. HOW COMMON IS IT FOR THESE DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO CHANGE THESE PRICES SO ABRUPTLY? >> EACH YEAR, YOU SEE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASES. THIS PAST YEAR ALONE IN JANUARY, MANUFACTURERS INCREASED THE PRICES OF DRUGS ON ABOUT A THOUSAND DIFFERENT DRUGS. IN SOME INSTANCES, BY MORE THAN DOUBLE DIGITS. >> WOW. >> LAST YEAR IN 2022, ABOUT 850 MEDICATIONS GOT INCREASED. AGAIN, SOME BY DOUBLE DIGITS, AND THESE ARE PRETTY COMMON DRUGS. THEY TREAT CANCER, HYPERTENSION, ADHD, THINGS THAT MOST INDIVIDUALS NEED. THE REAL CHALLENGE WITH THIS IS THAT WHILE THESE DRUGS MAY PROVIDE TREMENDOUS CLINICAL BENEFITS, THEY SHOULDN'T BE A BLANK CHECK THAT CONSUMERS HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB. REALLY WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS PROVIDE EMPLOYERS, CONSUMERS, HEALTH PLANS AND PROVIDERS SOME ADVANCED NOTICE THAT YOU CAN PLAN APPROPRIATELY BEFORE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AT THE PHARMACY COUNTER. >> WOULD THE BILL DEAL WITH-- WOULD IT ALLOW ANY KIND OF STATE ENTITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT PROPOSED PRICE INCREASE, OR IS THIS JUST WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU A HEADS UP? >> THIS IS A NOTICE REQUIREMENT. BACK IN THE '21 STATE BUDGET, THE STATE GAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE PRICE INCREASES ON DRUG MANUFACTURERS OVER 50%, BUT IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY KIND OF PRE-NOTIFICATION. THIS IS A GOOD CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL, GIVING THEM ADVANCE-- BY REQUIRING ADVANCE NOTICE IS A GOOD WAY TO HELP CONSUMERS THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT ARE MY POTENTIAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN YOU SAW INCREASES FOR EPIPENS, ANYBODY WHO HAS A KID WITH A NUT ALLERGY HAS THREE OR FOUR EPIPENS. IF THE PRICE GOES UP, YOU WANT TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME ADVANCED NOTICE TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, GO OUT AND GET-- UPDATE YOUR PRESCRIPTION BEFOREHAND SO YOU CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF COST CERTAINTY FOR YOURSELF. >> OH YEAH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE ALLERGIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE LIFE-OR-DEATH THINGS. IT'S NOT LIKE MY ALLERGY MEDICATION THAT I MAYBE DON'T NEED SOMETIMES. >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FROM PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR BIG PHARMA. YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY PROVIDING SOME NOTICE. AS I SAID, IT'S PASSED IN A NUMBER OF STATES AND MY HOPE IS NEW YORK 0 WOULD FOLLOW SUIT AND DO SOMETHING SIMILAR. >> SO THAT KIND OF LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT THE COST OF HEALTH CARE. YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. NOT YOU, INDIVIDUALLY, BUT YOUR MEMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH REQUESTS EVERY YEAR FROM FINANCIAL SERVICE RATE HIKES SO THAT YOU CAN CHARGE CONSUMERS MORE. YOU SAY THAT'S BECAUSE THE COST OF HEALTH CARE IS GOING UP. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE. WHERE DO WE SEE THOSE CHANGES? WHY HAVE A RATE INCREASE? >> SURE.

SO HEALTH INSURANCE IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IS EXPENSIVE. >> YEAH. >> THE UNDERLYING FACTORS DRIVING HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE THE COSTS THAT DOCTORS, HOSPITALS AND PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ARE CHARGING FOR SERVICES, WHICH WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, NEW YORK HAS PARTICULARLY HIGH HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN DECIDED AROUND MANDATED BENEFITS, AS WELL AS TAXES THAT ARE IMPOSED ON HEALTH INSURANCE, ABOUT $6 BILLION A YEAR GETS IMPOSED ON THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH VARIOUS TAXES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS. THAT ADDS ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE COST OF COVERAGE TO A FAMILY POLICY. WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR-- YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR'S RATE INCREASES WERE ABOUT 8 TO 9%. THE RATES THAT GOT PUT FORWARD IN MAY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES WERE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20%, DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE STATE, WHAT TYPE OF COVERAGE, WHEN IT'S INDIVIDUAL OR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED COVERAGE AND WHAT THAT REALLY REFLECTS IS THOSE UNDERLYING COSTS. OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FROM 2017 TO 2021, WE SAW-- NATIONALLY WE SAW PRICES FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES GO UP ABOUT 14%. NEW YORK, THEY WENT UP ABOUT 18%. THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THERE'S BEEN A SLOWDOWN IN THOSE COSTS. IN FACT, WITH INFLATION AND OTHER COST PRESSURES THAT PROVIDERS AND PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ARE PUTTING ON, YOU KNOW, THOSE COSTS ARE GOING UP EVEN HIGHER. >> WHY ARE THEY GOING UP SO MUCH? 18% IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER. DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION? IS IT JUST INFLATION THAT'S HOW BAD INFLATION IS THAT IT'S TRICKLING INTO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, OR ARE THERE OTHER COST THAT ARE BEING BORNE? >> SOME OF IT WILL BE FACTORS THAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY. INFLATION IS CERTAINLY AFFECTING THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, BUT THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUSH ON BY PROVIDERS TO INCREASE, THAT ARE CHARGING HIGHER PRICES FOR THE SERVICES, SAME THING WITH PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, AS I MENTIONED. IT STARTED THIS YEAR AND SEEING SOME MANUFACTURERS CHARGE DOUBLE-DIGIT PRICE INCREASES FOR THEIR DRUGS. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, EVEN HIGHER THAN INFLATION AND REALLY THE QUESTION COMES DOWN TO WHY ARE THOSE COSTS GOING UP? PART OF THE REASON SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR THIS PAST SESSION AROUND TRANSPARENCY IS TO HELP ANSWERS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED. WHEN HEALTH CARE COSTS GO UP, PREMIUMS WILL REFLECT THOSE COSTS. >> DO YOU SEE A REALISTIC SCENARIO EVER WHERE HEALTH CARE COSTS COULD GO DOWN? SO THEN MAYBE YOUR MEMBERS COULD REQUEST LOWER RATES. I DON'T THINK THAT MAY HAPPEN. >> WELL, CERTAINLY IF THINGS WERE DONE TO ADDRESS UNDERLYING HEALTH CARE COSTS, I MEAN, YOU MOVE BEYOND SOME OF THE BILLS WE TALKED ABOUT AROUND PRICE TRANSPARENCY, BUT IF YOU WERE TO TAKE SOME OF THE STEPS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE MARKETPLACE. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT WE PUSHED FOR AND WE HOPE GETS TAKEN UP NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE ANTICOMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PRACTICES THAT HOSPITALS UNDERTAKE, WHERE THEY REQUIRE THINGS LIKE ALL-OR-NOTHING PROVISIONS IN THEIR CONTRACT, SO THAT WHERE A HEALTH PLAN MAY WANT TO CONTRACT WITH ONE PARTICULAR FACILITY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM ALL ON, THAT ADDS TO COSTS. THAT CREATES DYSFUNCTIONS IN THE MARKET. YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS I THINK WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE MARKET, DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE PRICING PRESSURES. WE MAY NOT SEE A REDUCTION IN PREMIUMS BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING COSTS THAT SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE REFLECTED IN PREMIUMS. >> SOME PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS IN ALBANY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS A BILL CALLED THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH THEY SEE AS THE SOLUTION TO ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THIS A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE IN NEW YORK. SO ALL OF YOUR MEMBERS WOULD DISAPPEAR. YOU WOULDN'T EXIST ANYMORE AND THE STATE WOULD BE MANAGING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR EVERYBODY. (CLEARS THROAT) EXCUSE ME. SO THEY HAVE RECENTLY COME OUT WITH A REVISED VERSION OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH THEY SAY ADDRESSES SOME CONCERNS FROM RETIRED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES SAYING BASICALLY, YOU WILL GET YOUR BENEFITS AS YOU WERE PROMISED UNDER THIS BILL. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE BILL AND I KNOW YOU'RE AGAINST THE REVISED VERSION AS WELL. TELL ME WHY. >> I MEAN, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL NEW YORKERS DESERVE HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, BUT THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE THE OPTIONS THAT BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS. WHAT THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT DOES IS MOVES 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS INTO A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT'S REALLY AND UNTESTED-- THAT WOULD BE AN UNTESTED PROGRAM. AND IT WOULD LEAD TO LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND TAKE OPTIONS AWAY FROM SENIORS. YOU KNOW, THAT ALL SAID, THERE ARE WAYS TO GET THERE. WE'VE GOT-- TO GET TO UNIVERSAL COVERAGE. WE'VE GOT MORE THAN THE 95, 96% OF NEW YORKERS WHO ARE COVERED. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STEPS, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE STATE'S ESSENTIAL PLAN TO ENABLE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORTED. WE HOPE THAT GETS TAKEN UP NEXT YEAR AND ON YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT AND PUBLIC RETIREES, THE BILL WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE PUBLIC RETIREES TO PAY, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TAX TO HELP FUND THIS THING AND FOR MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEIR COVERAGE FOR FREE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE. SO REALLY, ACTUALLY ADVERSELY AFFECTS A LOT OF PUBLIC RETIREES IN ADDITION TO MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS. >> IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT THE JOBS THAT WOULD BE LOST FROM YOUR MEMBERS COULD BE KIND OF CHANGED IN A WAY WHERE THE STATE OVERSEES THE PROGRAM BUT INSURANCE COMPANIES ADMINISTER IT. SO IT WOULD BE STATE-RUN PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY YOUR MEMBERS. I'VE HEARD THAT TALKED ABOUT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? >> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILLING WITH A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, THAT TAKES OPTIONS AND CHOICES AWAY FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ON THE JOB LOSS, WHILE ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT 161,000 WOULD COME FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, THE REMAINDER OF THAT WOULD COME FROM OTHER AREAS THAT WERE SOMEWHAT RESISTANT TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, FINANCE AND OTHER INDUSTRIES BEING SOME OF THEM, SO YOU'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT JOB LOSS AS A RESULT OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT. IT'S REALLY THE WRONG PRESCRIPTION. REALLY, I THINK WHAT NEW YORKERS WANT IS FOR POLICYMAKERS TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S WORKING, FIX WHAT'S NOT, AND WE THINK THAT TAKING THE STEPS AROUND EXPANDING COVERAGE PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T ACCESS IT TODAY, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SHUT OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS IS REALLY THE LAST BIG VACUUM OF INDIVIDUALS TO GET TO US UNIVERSAL COVERAGE. THAT'S A BETTER APPROACH THAN UPENDING THE SYSTEM FOR 20 MILLION NEW YORKERS >> ALL RIGHT. SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IF THE NEW HEALTH CHAIR IN THE ASSEMBLY MAKES A MAJOR PUSH FOR IT NEXT YEAR WITH THE SENATE HEALTH CHAIR. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS BUT I THINK SOME LAWMAKERS SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD. WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS. ERIC LINZER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH PLAN ASSOCIATION. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAN. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND AS WE MENTIONED, THE STATE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING NEW RATE HIKES FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DECIDE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. FOR MORE FROM US, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE. THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND FIND MORE COVERAGE FROM ACROSS THE STATE. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW.

" HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL. [ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.