New York State Health Care Reform Act (HCRA)

March 25, 1997

Re: Health Care Reform Act of 1996

To Health Care Providers and Payors:

The following will provide notification that the State Departments of Health and Insurance have reached a determination that accident-only policies which provide inpatient health insurance coverage on an expense incurred basis will not be required to participate in the Professional Education Pool established by the Health Care Reform Act pursuant to Section 2807-s of the Public Health Law. This exemption status applies to both covered-lives and per-unit of service GME payments. Please note that this is applicable to accident-only policies and will not apply to currently affected policies which provide health service coverage for sickness, illness, and disease related medical claims.

Should there be any questions regarding this notification please contact Richard Pellegrini, Director, Bureau of Financial Management and Information Support, Department of Health at (518) 474-1673, or Thomas Zyra, Associate Attorney, Life and Health Bureau, Department of Insurance at (518) 486-7815.

Sincerely,

Fredric L. Bodner, J.D.
Assistant Deputy Superintendent and Chief
Health Bureau
State Insurance Department

Mark H. Van Guysling
Assistant Director
Division of Health Care Financing
NYS Department of Health