NY coalition proposes first-in-the-nation cap on hospital clinic bills

Published

9 months ago

November 21, 2024

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A broad coalition in New York is backing state legislation that would impose a first-in-the-nation cap on medical bills — aimed at hospitals that own or house outpatient clinics and charge higher rates than private practices.

Under the “Fair Pricing Act”, patient billing costs would be capped at 150% of rates set by the federal Medicare program for procedures for senior citizens.

A joint committee consisting of the powerful building workers union Local 32 BJ and an arm of the Real Estate Board of New York is bankrolling a seven figure media ad blitz to build support for the bill.

“Two patients walk into their local doctor’s offices for the same procedure but pay a very different price. This is happening all over New York because big hospitals are taking over independent doctors’ offices and driving up the cost of routine procedures,” the 30-second TV ad says.

“Health care shouldn’t cost more because a hospital owns the building. The same procedure should cost the same fair price.”

The ad — paid for by the 32BJ Labor Industry Cooperation Trust Fund — gives examples showing glaring disparities.

Currently, the bill for a child’s flu shot at a doctor’s office could be $23, but at a hospital outpatient clinic, it’s $183, advocates say.

Administering IV fluid to a senior patient at a doctor’s office is $566, less than half the $1,719 charged at a hospital-run outpatient clinic.

An MRI to check for stomach pain is $1,308 at a hospital clinic, more than double the $659 at a doctor’s office.

Among the groups backing the proposed law include the NAACP, Hispanic Federation, Asian-American Federation and NY Immigration Coalition.

“Big hospitals are treating routine medical services like a game of monopoly, where every time a patient lands on a building they own a higher price is charged,” said Manny Pastreich, president of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.

“Our members count on being able to go to their local doctors office to take their kid for a flu shot, get an MRI for a balky knee or an IV bag for dehydration and they shouldnt have to pay inflated prices just because a big hospital took over that facility.”

State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), who chairs the influential finance committee, just introduced the “Fair Pricing Act.”

We cannot let Big Hospitals become the next Big Oil or Big Steel, with monopoly control over everything and people forced to pay more for the same basic procedure. By capping the cost of outpatient services through the Fair Pricing Act we can level the playing field and ensure that patients have access to the same fair price wherever they go for their healthcare needs, said Krueger.

Aside from the hard cap, the measure would ban adding facility fees to routine outpatient services, thereby preventing excessive payments to hospitals for doctors office services

State agencies — including the state attorney general — would enforce the caps and impose penalties for law-breaking and “deceptive practices.”

Advocates said the lower medical expenses for patients and insurers like state and local governments and union health funds will make medical care more affordable.

About 60% of doctors’ practice are hospital or corporate owned and nearly 80% of physicians are employees of hospitals or corporate entities, Local 32 BJ said.

The bill, if enacted, would impact major hospital networks such as New York Presbyterian, Northwell and NYU Langone Health.

The lobbying group for hospitals opposes “the terrible bill.”

Hospitals and doctors offices are not the same. Only hospitals deliver care 24/7 and accept any patient who walks through their doors. Hospitals are also subject to myriad regulatory requirements that doctors offices are not,” said Greater New York Hospital Association president Kenneth Raske.

Rakse said the bill “ignores” financial pressures hospitals face.

“Does 32BJ have a magic wand that will eliminate severe Medicaid underpayments and staggering numbers of payment delays and denials by for-profit insurance companies?, Raske asked.

If the goal is to force New Yorkers to seek their care in Philadelphia, this bill would do it. Rather than push harmful public policy, the bills supporters should join the hospital community in fighting for higher Medicaid payment rates and pushing back on health insurance companies abusive practices.

World

Two married couples found dead in British car after crash in Germany

Published

2 mins ago

August 24, 2025

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Two married couples found dead in British car after crash in Germany

Two married couples have died after a British car veered off the road and crashed in Germany, according to police.

The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight on Saturday in the trees near a highway in the Kassel district, north of Hesse in central Germany.

The 32-year-old male driver, a 31-year-old female passenger, a 32-year-old female passenger, and a 30-year-old female passenger all died at the scene, despite the efforts of German emergency services.

Sky News understands UK officials have not been contacted for assistance.

At roughly 12.30am on Saturday, the car appears to have veered off the road and crashed into nearby trees around 30m from the road, according to the Kassel police department.

One of the victim’s phones automatically alerted the emergency services to the incident, who sent an ambulance to the scene.

Soon, fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and emergency support vehicles were all dispatched.

When emergency workers arrived, the car was lying on its side, wedged between several trees.

It wasn’t until they removed the roof that they found all four passengers.

The emergency workers who dealt with the victims were immediately supported by the specialist mental health workers at the fire station in Reinhardshagen.

“This high number of deaths is an extraordinary operation for our Reinhardshagen Volunteer Fire Department,” said a fire department spokesperson.

“For some of the emergency personnel, it is the first time they have been confronted with death in this way.

“Therefore, a great deal is being done to help us process these images. We will also discuss this among ourselves and within families, because not everyone can easily shake off what they have seen.”

An investigation into the accident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Hofgeismar police station.

US

Trump seeking to ‘manufacture a crisis’ in Chicago, says Illinois governor

Published

2 mins ago

August 24, 2025

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Trump seeking to 'manufacture a crisis' in Chicago, says Illinois governor

The governor of Illinois has accused Donald Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis” over reports the US president was considering deploying the military in the state.

US newspaper The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the Pentagon was drafting plans to deploy the US army in Chicago, the state capital.

It comes as part of Mr Trump’s crackdown on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration in mainly Democrat-run cities. He recently deployed the National Guard in Washington DC.

In a statement responding to the report, governor JB Pritzker said Illinois had “received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention”.

He added: “The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority.

“There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalising the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.”

The governor then said: “Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicise Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.

“We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois.”

Officials familiar with the proposals told the Post that several options were being weighed up by the US defence department, including mobilising thousands of National Guard troops in Chicago as early as September.

The Pentagon said it would not comment on planned operations, adding: “The department is a planning organisation and is continuously working with other agency partners on plans to protect federal assets and personnel.”

Mr Trump, however, told reporters on Friday that “Chicago is a mess,” before attacking the city’s mayor Brandon Johnson and hinting “we’ll straighten that one out probably next”.

Mr Johnson has not yet commented on Saturday’s reports, but said on Friday that the president’s approach to tackling crime has been “uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound”.

“There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them,” he added.

It comes after around 800 National Guard troops were deployed in Washington DC earlier this month, despite the US capital’s mayor revealing crime in the capital was at its “lowest level in 30 years”.

According to preliminary figures from Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police, violent crime is down 26% in 2025 – after dropping 35% in 2024 compared with 2023.

In June Mr Trump ordered 700 US Army marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in California, during protests over mass immigration raids.

The deployment came against the wishes of state governor Gavin Newsom, who said: “The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate.

“That is not the way any civilised country behaves.”

Science

Massive Fireball Streaks Across Southern Japan, Lighting Up the Night Sky

Published

36 mins ago

August 24, 2025

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On Aug. 19, residents of southern Japan witnessed a brilliant fireball streaking across the night sky, lighting up cities from Kagoshima to Osaka. The meteor appeared at 11:08 p.m. local time, glowing green-blue with flashes so bright they rivaled the moon before bursting into orange-red fragments above the Pacific Ocean. Security and dashcam cameras captured the dazz…