BILL NUMBER:S2996

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the civil service law, in relation to increasing local
government participation in the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan

PURPOSE:
This bill would permit eligible agencies (counties, cities,
towns, villages, school districts or other municipal entities) to
participate in the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan without being
required to also become a participating agency under both the medical
and drug plans provided by the New York State Health Insurance Plan
(NYSHIP).

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends the Civil Service law by adding a new
section 163-b authorizing counties, cities, towns, villages, school
districts or other municipal entities to participate solely in the
Empire Plan Prescription Drug Plan.
The Department of Civil Service will promulgate rules and regulations
for participation in such plan.

EXISTING LAW:
NYSHIP offers its participating employers a prescription
drug benefit that provides coverage for drugs dispensed through
              

retail pharmacies and via mail order. Employers who do not
participate in NYSHIP are currently not allowed to participate in the
Empire Plan's drug benefit.

JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation will allow counties, cities, towns, villages, school
districts or other municipal entities, many who do not participate in
NYSHIP, to buy-in to its comparatively less expensive Empire
prescription drug plan, without having to buy into the whole
medical/hospital NYSHIP plan.

NYSHIP offers its participating employers a prescription drug benefit
that provides coverage for drugs dispensed through retail pharmacies
and via mail order. Employers who do not participate in NYSHIP are
currently not allowed to participate in the Empire Plan's drug benefit.

The bill recommends legislation to authorizing non-NYSHIP employers be
allowed to opt into a stand-alone prescription drug plan utilizing
the Empire Plan's contracts and structure.

* The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) was established
in 1957 for State employees. The next year, NYSHIP opened to local
governments and school districts. Now, more than 50 years later,
NYSHIP is the largest public employer health insurance program in the
nation, outside the Federal government. NYSHIP protects over 1.2
million State and local government employees, retirees and their
families.
* 800 local government entities have already joined NYSHIP.
* They count on the dependability and financial stability that come
from NYSHIP's size, experience and $4.7 billion annual premium.


This is a modification of a recommendation from the Task Force on
Retiree Health Insurance.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Possible cost
savings to counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts or
other municipal entities who opt-in to the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 days after it shall become law.