New York Assembly Passes Health Care Bill

The New York State Assembly is moving forward a measure that would put in place a single payer health coverage system for residents.

The publicly funded coverage would not have co-pays, deductibles or network restrictions.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the state had to step forward to protect residents as lawmakers in Washington debate tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting funding for healthcare:

The sponsor of the bill, Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried laid the blame on the steps of the White House, saying the Trump administration is working to make health care access even worse.

Under the measure, benefits would include comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, primary and preventative care, prescription drugs, behavioral health services, laboratory testing, rehabilitative care, dental, vision and hearing care.