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In the News: Denny Salas

A bipartisan legislative push is afoot on Capitol Hill to prohibit all U.S. employers from forcing their retired workers into Medicare Advantage coverage — a proposal that could spell trouble for Mayor Adams, who’s trying to mandate the privatized health insurance program for New York City’s 250,000 municipal retirees. The anti-Advantage effort is expected to formally get underway Thursday, when Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Ritchie Torres, both of whom represent parts of New York City, plan to co-introduce a bill that would amend U.S. social security law so that it’d become illegal for “public and private employers” to “involuntarily” shift Medicare-aged retirees into Advantage plans. Full Article: https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/09/14/reps-malliotakis-torres-introduce-bipartisan-bill-blocking-mayor-adams-medicare-advantage-switch-for-nyc-retirees/

NY Daily News: Reps. Malliotakis, Torres introduce bipartisan bill blocking Mayor Adams’ Medicare Advantage switch for NYC retirees (Exclusive)

A bipartisan legislative push is afoot on Capitol Hill to prohibit all U.S. employers from forcing their retired workers into Medicare Advantage coverage — a proposal that could spell trouble for Mayor Adams, who’s trying to mandate the privatized health insurance program for New York City’s 250,000 municipal retirees.

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NEW YORK — Former prominent New York City union officials are putting pressure on the City Council to back legislation that would permit retired municipal employees to keep their traditional Medicare. Details: In a letter to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council members Thursday, 35 ex-labor leaders who either sat on or whose unions were part of the Municipal Labor Committee — an umbrella group for 102 public sector unions — urged the body to back a measure sponsored by Council Member Charles Barron that would change the administrative code to preserve health care insurance choice. The committee supported the Adams administration’s plan to force roughly 250,000 retirees onto a Medicare Advantage plan recently blocked by a Manhattan Supreme Court judge. Full Article: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2023/09/former-city-union-officials-push-bill-seeking-health-care-choice-for-retirees-00114599

Politico Pro: Former city union officials push bill seeking health care choice for retirees

In a letter to the City Council, 35 ex-labor leaders urged the body to back a measure that would change the administrative code to preserve health care insurance choice.

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U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres on Thursday joined local health care advocates — as well as senior citizens and public sector retirees — to announce he will be introducing new legislation aimed at protecting the rights of seniors to access traditional Medicare coverage. His “Right to Medicare Act” comes as a response to New York City government’s continued attempt to involuntarily kick approximately 250,000 public sector retirees off the traditional Medicare plans they worked decades to secure and were promised, instead onto privately-run health care insurance plans through Medicare Advantage. Full Story: https://www.bxtimes.com/torres-legislation-seniors-medicare/

Bronx Times: Torres announces new legislation aimed at protecting seniors’ access to Medicare

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres on Thursday joined local health care advocates — as well as senior citizens and public sector retirees — to announce he will be introducing new legislation aimed at protecting the rights of seniors to access traditional Medicare coverage.

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BRONX, N.Y. – U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15) today joined local healthcare advocates and affected seniors and public sector retirees to announce he will be introducing new legislation – the “Right to Medicare Act” – aimed at protecting the rights of seniors to access traditional Medicare coverage. It comes as a response to New York City government, the largest municipal employer in the country, which continues to attempt to involuntarily kick approximately 250,000 public sector retirees off the traditional Medicare plans they worked decades to secure and were promised and onto privately run healthcare insurance plans through Medicare Advantage. “There is no topic as important to me than the defense of Medicare,” said U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY 15). “There is no set of people to whom we owe a greater debt than our senior citizens. The two programs that enable our seniors to lead decent and dignified lives are Medicare and Social Security – both of which must be protected at all costs. The United States is the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and with great wealth comes great responsibility. For me, there is no greater responsibility than the protection of healthcare to those in greatest need – our senior citizens. This is a public good for our senior citizens that must be protected from privatization.” Full Story: https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/u-s-rep-ritchie-torres-announces-new-legislation-aimed-at-protecting-rights-of-seniors-to-access-traditional-medicare-coverage

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres Announces New Legislation Aimed at Protecting Rights of Seniors to Access Traditional Medicare Coverage

BRONX, N.Y. – U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15) today joined local healthcare advocates and affected seniors and public sector retirees to announce he will be introducing new legislation – the “Right to Medicare Act” – aimed at protecting the rights of seniors to access traditional Medicare coverage.

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U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres was in the Bronx with advocates on Thursday making a big push when it comes to health care for seniors. The rally took place in Riverdale, where Rep. Torres and other officials talked about the "Right to Medicare Act." Full Story: https://bronx.news12.com/rally-held-to-support-passing-of-right-to-medicare-act

News12-The Bronx: Rally held to support passing of Right to Medicare Act

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres was in the Bronx with advocates on Thursday making a big push when it comes to health care for seniors.

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New York City’s largest municipal union is text-blasting its members urging them to bombard Council members with critical phone calls if they support a bill that would guarantee traditional Medicare coverage for retired municipal employees, the Daily News has learned. The text action from DC37 is part of the politically influential union’s support for an effort by Mayor Adams’ administration to make a cost-cutting, privatized Medicare Advantage plan the only health insurance option available for the city’s 250,000 municipal retirees. The texts, copies of which were obtained by The News, take aim at Intro 1099, a bill penned by Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron that would require the city to offer its retired workers a premium-free traditional Medicare plan. Most of the city’s retirees currently benefit from such a Medicare structure, consisting of the universal federal program and a city-subsidized Medigap supplement. Supporters of Barron’s bill argue it would protect traditional Medicare coverage at a time when it’s under threat by the Adams administration’s Advantage push — but the DC37 texts say the legislation could put active union workers’ health insurance at risk. Full Story: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-dc37-workers-call-nyc-council-members-with-calls-medicare-advantage-20230822-f2qaoqzx7remjdwmjkj777q4me-story.html

NY Daily News: NYC’s largest municipal union urges workers to confront Council members who oppose Medicare Advantage push

New York City’s largest municipal union is text-blasting its members urging them to bombard Council members with critical phone calls if they support a bill that would guarantee traditional Medicare coverage for retired municipal employees, the Daily News has learned.

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Historically, New York’s City Council has set nationwide precedents by adopting historic and landmark legislation dealing with such vital issues as campaign finance, anti-apartheid, human and worker rights, and women and senior citizen protection laws. It once again has the opportunity to protect the health and well-being of more than 250,000 retired city public servants. Intro 1099 now before the Council would allow a choice between traditional Medicare and a new Medicare Advantage Plan. This bill would protect the many thousands who have been told that some of their long-time oncologists, cardiologists, gynecologists, etc. will not accept advantage plans. Can anyone imagine the horror of hearing from your oncologist, whose expertise, caring and treatment has kept you or a loved one alive for much longer than anyone expected, that her medical group sadly will not accept Aetna Advantage? This fear and resultant stress, which is proven to bring on sickness and worse, is a heavy burden for so many seniors to endure. Council members are mistakenly being told that retiree benefits are subject only to the Taylor Law and collective bargaining. The historical facts as detailed below prove that the two largest union supporters of removing all city retirees from traditional Medicare — District Council 37 and the United Federation of Teachers — never before believed this, as evidenced by their own testimony before the City Council on prior legislation amending the exact section, 12-126 of the city’s administrative code, which they mistakenly now claim the Council is preempted from amending. On my first day working in the Council’s legal division in 1979, I met two people who I would grow to deeply respect, befriend and admire. One was then aide and future borough president and now again a Council member, Gale Brewer, and the other was Council Member Mary Pinkett. Our no door offices were only yards apart. Mary, prior to making history by becoming the first Black woman ever elected to the City Council, was the president of Local 371 and vice president of DC 37. Her husband Bill was an active member of the UFT. Mary always fought for the unions and increased worker protections and benefits. For years, the Council would, when necessary, amend section 12–126 of the administrative code to provide city government retirees reimbursement of their Medicare Part B premiums. But with her distinguished 25 year-plus tenure soon to end, Mary, as Governmental Operations Committee chair, wanted to guarantee full reimbursement for city retirees as promised, no matter who the mayor or speaker in the future might be. This led to the passage of Intro 580-A in 2001 with the outspoken support of DC37 and the UFT. When the final negotiations with the mayor on this bill occurred in early 2001, I along with Speaker Peter F. Vallone, and our chief of staff were the only three Council people in the mayor’s office during these weekly discussions. I’ve always clearly remembered these meetings as I had promised my long-time friend Mary, we’d do all we could to get this bill passed. That is why I was astonished when I read UFT President Michael Mulgrew’s June 30 letter to Speaker Adrienne Adams in which he claimed that the Taylor Law and collective bargaining disallows legislative action on Intro 1099 and only through collective bargaining can retiree benefits be granted or amended. Mulgrew wrote that this has been the policy for “more than half a century.” He must surely know that this is untrue as in 2000 and 2001 both union presidents strongly urged the Council to pass legislation and amend section 12–126 without a single mention of preemption. And even only 35 years ago, Bob Linn, Ed Koch’s Office of Labor Relations director and chief labor negotiator wrote Mayor Koch Feb. 26, 1988 that Medicare Part B “reimbursement is pursuant to local law, not any collective bargaining agreement.” On Jan. 31, 2000, Lee Saunders, administrator of DC37 testified before the City Council on Intro 580 which amended section 12–126 and provided for full Medicare Part B reimbursement. He stated “DC37 emphatically and unequivocally supports this legislation. Indeed, we view it as the fulfillment of a promise made to the men and women who spent their working lives in public service by the city a long time ago. The promise was that the city would do exactly what the bill calls for: fully reimburse retirees for the cost of Medicare part B payments.” Saunders did not mention any legislative preclusion or preemption to act because of any supposed restrictive language under collective bargaining or the Taylor Law, as this was one of numerous prior times the Council acted according to its legal authority to amend section 12–126. It was legal then and it’s legal now. At the same hearing in 2000, UFT President Randi Weingarten’s personal representative testified on behalf of “our 35,000 member retired teachers chapter and on behalf of the UFT and its 140,000 members urging the Council to adopt Intro 580.” She continued, “We know that the entire Council will vote positively on this important issue.” Again, not a single word of mention about collective bargaining or the Taylor Law was made by the UFT that day. In fact, the UFT was not even on the invited public witness list prepared by the committee’s counsel which my office then sent out under my signature. Yet they deemed it so important that they came down to City Hall to testify in support of Council passage. The Taylor Law and collective bargaining now touted by the UFT’s current long-time and hand-picked successor to Weingarten as precluding Council legislative action, was again, never raised. The following year, 2001, the Council finally adopted Intro 580-A and who came to testify at the hearing? Why none other than DC37 and the UFT, and they again both separately testified and urged the quick passage of the legislation by the Council with yet once again, not a single mention of any preemption. I urge all Council Members to consider sponsoring and adopting Intro 1099. The legality of Section 12-126 has now been upheld by the courts numerous times in the last two years. On Aug. 11, Justice Lyle Frank of Manhattan Supreme Court said, “that both the doctrine of promissory estoppel and the provisions of New York City Administrative Code Section 12-126 bars the actions sought to be taken by respondents.” Isn’t it time that the Council puts this action by the Municipal Labor Committee and OLR to rest? The MLC has never bargained for or represented retirees, and surely not for me as a non-union City Council employee. Giving retirees a choice to pick Medicare Advantage or not matters because, according to a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation study, more than 2 million nationwide prior authorization requests (6%) were fully or partially denied by Medicare Advantage insurers in 2021. The highest percentage of denials which was double that at 12% was from none other than Aetna/CVS. Just one out of nine of the more than 2 million denials were actually appealed as the process is often difficult, especially for the elderly or infirm. Yet in 82% of those appeal cases, the denial was fully or partially overturned. Aetna after many times wrongly, cruelly, or greedily fully or partially denying 12% of all pre-authorizations then overturned and reversed their decisions 90% of the time when appealed. This was, of course, no help to the eight out of nine enrollees who couldn’t or didn’t appeal believing the initial determination was final. How many of those denials resulted in needless pain, torment or even death? Please do not be swayed by any MLC or union claim that this Aetna plan has been carefully negotiated and is different and better than all other Aetna plans. A zebra can’t change its stripes. And instead of touting the free meals after hospital stays or car rides (yes many who need, can already get that and it’s called Meals on Wheels and Access-A-Ride) that the Aetna plan will provide, how about letting us stay on traditional Medicare and continue to keep and choose our own doctors. Our lives may depend on it. Please remember that Aetna is a for-profit company, and however noble some unions may think their effort is, Aetna only makes additional money by denying pre-authorizations, whenever possible. They have already admitted to the state Supreme Court that death has occurred because of denials. The overwhelming majority of more than 250,000 city retirees are living on small pensions and Social Security and will have no choice but to switch to Aetna if the unthinkable happens. These are more likely to be Black, Hispanic and women retirees, whose salaries and thus pensions years ago were often unfairly kept lower. Please, Council think of them and all retirees as we battle the infirmities and diseases that older age inevitably and eventually brings. Do it for Mary. Altman was an attorney at the City Council for 38 years during which he served for almost 25 years as the legislative counsel to four speakers. https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-city-council-retirees-medicare-advantage-choice-20230820-ukkevtixunckljwiiejyej77nq-story.html?oref=csny_firstread_nl

NY Daily News: The City Council owes retirees Medicare choice: Let people pick if they want to switch to Medicare Advantage

Historically, New York’s City Council has set nationwide precedents by adopting historic and landmark legislation dealing with such vital issues as campaign finance, anti-apartheid, human and worker rights, and women and senior citizen protection laws. It once again has the opportunity to protect the health and well-being of more than 250,000 retired city public servants.

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A state Supreme Court judge blocked New York City from switching municipal retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan aimed at saving hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs, delivering retirees a key victory in a hard-fought battle to keep their current coverage. “This is now the third time in the last two years that courts have had to step in and stop the City from violating retirees’ healthcare rights,” Marianne Pizzitola, president of the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, said in an emailed statement. “We once again call on the City and the Municipal Labor Committee to end their ruthless and unlawful campaign to deprive retired municipal workers of the healthcare benefits they earned.” Mayor Eric Adams’ administration signed a contract with Aetna earlier this year for a Medicare Advantage plan that the city has said would save $600 million a year on retiree health care costs. (Retirees fighting the switch have disputed this figure.) The switch from retirees’ traditional Medicare plans was set to go into effect on Sep. 1, until Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lyle Frank granted a temporary restraining order in July. Retirees have fought the switch, arguing that privatized Medicare Advantage plans will limit access to their medical providers, could come with higher out-of-pocket costs, and have been found to deny necessary care. Retirees currently enroll in traditional Medicare, along with a city-subsidized supplemental coverage plan known as Senior Care. A spokesperson for Adams said that the city plans to appeal the decision, and pointed to benefits of the Medicare Advantage plan that it negotiated alongside the Municipal Labor Committee, including a lower deductible, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses and benefits like fitness programs. (Pizzitola has said that these don’t amount to improvements, noting that once retirees meet their deductible with Senior Care they don’t have out-of-pocket expenses.) The city has also characterized the switch as an essential savings initiative. “It would save $600 million annually, especially critical at a time when we are already facing significant fiscal and economic challenges,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “This decision only creates confusion and uncertainty among our retirees.” The state Supreme Court ruling received bipartisan praise from New York City Council members on Friday, including Democrat Tiffany Cabán and Republicans Inna Vernikov and Ari Kagan. Retirees vote, after all. https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2023/08/new-york-city-retirees-score-major-victory-medicare-advantage-fight/389352/

City & State: New York City retirees score major victory in Medicare Advantage fight

A judge blocked a planned switch of their health benefits after months of acrimony.

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With handmade signs and buttons, a group of municipal retirees gathered on Broadway outside of City Hall Park on Thursday to show support for keeping their existing health care plans. The city is attempting to switch insurance plans for municipal retirees, potentially saving the city hundreds of millions of dollars – while angering many former employees. Retirees are fighting the move in court, and now they want the City Council to take action as well. “The city should be ashamed of themselves,” New York City Council Member Charles Barron said at the rally. Barron has introduced a bill in the City Council that would essentially preserve an option for retirees to keep current plans. “You got money for the (Police Benevolent Association). You got money for DC37’s leadership. You got money for the (United Federation of Teachers). Then you need to have money for the retirees.” City workers and their dependents are eligible for free health insurance after they retire. Previously, the retirees would enroll in traditional Medicare and would get Senior Care, a supplemental plan from EmblemHealth. The money that covers the premiums and various other benefits come from the Joint Health Insurance Premium Stabilization Fund, which is jointly controlled by the city and the leaders of municipal unions. The money in this fund is shrinking, and in 2018 former Mayor Bill de Blasio and the union leaders came up with a plan to cut spending on health care, as City & State previously reported. To do this, retirees will no longer get traditional Medicare plus Senior Care. Instead, they’ll get Medicare Advantage from Aetna, which will have lower premiums for the city to pay, saving the city an estimated $600 million. However, Medicare Advantage could also come with smaller networks to choose doctors from and higher out-of-pocket costs for the retirees. On top of that, there’s evidence to suggest that Medicare Advantage plans often deny plan holders care. As a result, retirees have been protesting the changes to their insurance, recently securing a legal victory when a Manhattan Supreme Court judge temporarily blocked the switch. The City Council bill to intervene and maintain the status quo for retirees is gaining bipartisan support. It currently has 14 sponsors, including Black radical socialists, DSA members and outer borough conservatives. But Barron’s bill faces long odds. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has said he will move ahead with the planned switch, and he has the support of the DC 37 municipal employees union leadership. “The city’s Medicare Advantage plan, which was negotiated in close partnership with the Municipal Labor Committee, improves upon retirees’ current plans, including offering a lower deductible, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, and new benefits, like transportation, fitness programs, and wellness incentives,” mayoral spokesperson Jonah Allon said in a statement. “Further delay in implementing it will only cause greater uncertainty for our retirees and have a detrimental impact on our city’s budget.” City Hall has also said that the bill would interfere with the collective bargaining process and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has expressed similar concerns, Politico reported. DC 37 leader Henry Garrido is strongly opposed, and has floated pulling the union’s support of lawmakers who back it. Barron himself won’t be able to advocate for the legislation much longer: He was recently defeated in a primary election and is set to leave office at the end of the year. Barron introduced his bill on June 22. It would require the city to provide retirees at least one Medicare supplemental insurance plan with benefits equal to or better than the plan they currently have, rather than being automatically switched to Medicare Advantage. “Money is not the problem,” Barron said. “Mayor Adams is the problem.” Republican Council Member Ari Kagan, a co-sponsor on Barron’s bill, also spoke at the rally. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people who make our city better, safer, cleaner for decades,” Kagan said. New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees President Marianne Pizzitola, who led the rally, said that retirees won’t stop fighting the new health care program until it’s changed into something that they actually want to use. “You’re not going to bribe us with a perk, a ride to a doctor that doesn’t take this plan,” Pizzitola said. “We simply want our health care.” https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2023/07/we-simply-want-our-health-care-retirees-rally-city-hall-medicare-advantage-bill/388514/

City & State: ‘We simply want our health care.’ Retirees rally at City Hall for Medicare Advantage bill

Fresh off a recent legal victory, retirees are pushing the City Council to buck the mayor and union leaders.

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New York City was built on the shoulders of hardworking individuals who dedicated their lives to making this city great. Among them are our municipal retirees. Their years of service earned them a promised Medicare plan to meet healthcare needs in their golden years. Unfortunately, the Mayor pulled a blatant bait-and-switch by signing an executive order that shifts retiree health coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan. This move disregards retirees’ contributions and fails to deliver pledged financial benefits. Our retirees deserve better than a broken promise. Several groups of retirees have taken legal action against the mayor’s administration in an effort to prevent the City’s effort to diminish care for retirees. Recently, a judge temporarily blocked the switch while the case is pending in court—delaying the September implementation deadline for the mayor’s plan. We are encouraged by the ruling and hopeful that as the case moves forward in court, the justice system will hold the City accountable for promises made to the retired public servants who dedicated their lives to caring for New Yorkers. However, this is not the only avenue to halt this plan; we also support legislation that requires the City to offer Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents plans with benefits equal or superior to their current health plan. Retiree health benefits, which our city promised to retirees during their working years, are a form of deferred compensation that retirees accepted as part of their pay packages. For decades New York City’s municipal workers were assured that at retirement they would get a Medicare plan that included at least one Medigap policy. Designed to cover the 20% of medical costs not covered by Medicare, these gap plans also ensure retirees can see any healthcare provider in the United States who accepts Medicare. This flexibility allows them to continue their longstanding relationships with trusted doctors, maintaining continuity of care. The City must honor its promise and reject any proposal that does not guarantee continuity and access to care. No municipal retiree should be asked to pay more or accept less than they were promised. The mayor defends the Advantage plan as a win-win, claiming it will save the City $600 million annually in healthcare costs while allegedly providing robust benefits to retirees. This argument is based, in part, on the plan’s higher federal government subsidies compared to traditional Medicare options. However, the data suggests a different reality. According to New York City’s Independent Budget Office, taxpayers would see no savings under the mayor’s plan. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating eight of the ten largest Medicare Advantage insurers, including Aetna, for allegedly encouraging in-network physicians to falsify patient records, potentially defrauding the federal government of over $600 billion in the next decade. While Medicare Advantage Plans can be a great fit for many, we believe any changes in coverage for New York City retirees must be voluntary. The decision to replace traditional Medicare with Medicare Advantage could carry significant risk for retirees with specific and ongoing health care needs being covered by their current Medigap plan. AARP New York calls upon the mayor to reconsider his ill-advised move and instead prioritize honoring the commitments made to New York City retirees. It is our duty to provide retirees with Medicare-eligible plans that offer benefits equivalent to or better than what was initially promised. New York City retirees have played an instrumental role in building and elevating this great city. They deserve to enjoy their retirement years with the peace of mind that their healthcare needs will be met without unnecessary barriers or discrimination. Let us stand together to protect the promises made to our retirees and ensure they receive the health care they rightfully deserve. Beth Finkel is the state director of AARP New York https://www.amny.com/oped/op-ed-mayor-needs-to-reverse-decision-that-shifts-retiree-health-coverage-for-municipal-employees-to-a-medicare-advantage-plan/

amNewYork: Op-ed | Mayor needs to reverse decision that shifts retiree health coverage for municipal employees to a Medicare Advantage plan

New York City was built on the shoulders of hardworking individuals who dedicated their lives to making this city great. Among them are our municipal retirees. Their years of service earned them a promised Medicare plan to meet healthcare needs in their golden years.

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Retired municipal workers are ramping up pressure on city lawmakers to back legislation that would allow them to choose their health insurance instead of switching to a Medicare Advantage plan the Adams administration hopes to implement this fall. The pressure campaign follows a recent legal victory that temporarily paused the switch. The administration is exploring an appeal. “I think the judge’s decision was direct enough that it should move any City Council person that’s just sitting on the sidelines,” said Marianne Pizzitola, president of the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, in an interview. Close to 200 former municipal workers, including Pizzitola, rallied near City Hall Thursday. The event brought together two members who are often at opposite ends of issues – socialist Charles Barron, who introduced the bill last month, and his Republican colleague Ari Kagan. The legislation — which would amend the administrative code to maintain health insurance choice for retirees —has 14 sponsors, including Kagan. That’s still far short of the majority needed to pass, but momentum is building. Council Members Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat, and Erik Bottcher, a more liberal Democrat, signed onto the bill recently. Council Member Gale Brewer also said she’ll back it. Council Members Sandy Nurse and Oswald Feliz said they need to review the court ruling. Jake Gardener, counsel to the retirees, said: “We’ve been fighting our own battles for two years and we’ve been successful so it would be great if the City Council stepped up.” Council Member Joe Borelli — co-chair of the Council’s Common Sense Caucus that includes Republicans and moderate Democrats, filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit. But Borelli said members should wait for the court to issue a final ruling before making a decision on the bill. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has said she doesn’t want to “unilaterally intervene in a process that intersects with collective bargaining.” A Council spokesperson declined to comment. Barron insisted the bill will not hurt collective bargaining. “Now that this judge ruled in our favor, hopefully…they can follow the same path as the judge,” he said in an interview about council members’ potential support. District Council 37, the city’s largest municipal union, and the city’s teachers union, oppose the bill. Dick Riley, a UFT spokesperson, said the union believes the Medicare Advantage plan “offers the best chance to maintain high-quality, premium free health care for our retirees.” Jonah Allon, a City Hall spokesperson, said the bill would interfere with the collective bargaining process. He said the Medicare Advantage plan improves upon retirees’ current options. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2023/07/14/city-retirees-push-council-v-medicare-advantage-00106326

Politico: Momentum builds against Medicare Advantage

Retired municipal workers are ramping up pressure on city lawmakers to back legislation that would allow them to choose their health insurance instead of switching to a Medicare Advantage plan the Adams administration hopes to implement this fall.

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NEW YORK -- Retired New York City workers continue to fight to hold on to their Medicare benefits. Thursday, retirees gathered outside City Hall to speak out against the city's plan to change their health care. About 250,000 retired municipal workers will be impacted. They say the new privatized Medicare Advantage plan will limit their access to providers at higher costs. "We're very upset about it. We're very scared. We need our quality health care that we've always received through the city and through our unions," retired teacher Sarah Shapiro said. "We don't believe that our health care should be privatized." In a statement, a City Hall spokesperson said in part, "Further delay in implementing it will only cause greater uncertainty for our retirees and have a detrimental impact on our city's budget." https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-city-retired-workers-medicare-benefits-protest/

CBS News: Retired New York City workers speak out against plans to change Medicare benefits

Retired New York City workers continue to fight to hold on to their Medicare benefits.

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel issued the following statement today in response to a New York City Judge's decision to temporarily block the City’s initiative to change the health care plans available to NYC retirees while the case is pending in court: “AARP New York applauds Judge Frank’s decision as a victory for New York City retirees. We are encouraged by the ruling to halt the City’s flawed attempt at diminishing care for retirees as the court considers the Mayor’s ill-advised effort – which would risk retirees’ long-term health and retirement security. “We strongly agree with Judge Frank that because this matter will impact health care for an aging and vulnerable population – most of them on fixed incomes - any lapse in care for City retirees could have deleterious consequences. “The City should stand by the commitments it made to its retired workers for their service over their long careers. The Mayor’s plan would increase City retirees’ health care expenses, reduce their choices, make it more difficult for them to continue visiting their existing doctors, and provide them with far too little information about many other essential plan specifics. “New York City retirees deserve to enjoy their retirement years with the peace of mind that their healthcare needs will be met without unnecessary barriers or discrimination. AARP New York is hopeful that as the case moves forward in court, the justice system will hold the City accountable to its promises to the retired public servants who dedicated their lives to caring for New Yorkers.” Contact: Erik Kriss, ekriss@aarp.org https://local.aarp.org/news/aarp-ny-applauds-court-ruling-blocking-cuts-to-nyc-retirees-health-benefits-days-before-crucial-deadline-ny-2023-07-07.html

AARP NY Applauds Court Ruling Blocking Cuts to NYC Retirees’ Health Benefits Days Before Crucial Deadline

AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel issued the following statement today in response to a New York City Judge's decision to temporarily block the City’s initiative to change the health care plans available to NYC retirees while the case is pending in court:

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A Manhattan judge is pressing pause on a controversial plan to push New York City government retirees onto a new privatized version of Medicare this fall – a major victory for critics of the switch. In a plan that city officials said would save some $600 million a year, municipal retirees were supposed to be moved from their existing coverage – a combination of traditional Medicare with supplemental coverage paid for by the city – onto a private Medicare Advantage plan run by Aetna this fall. City officials had scheduled the deadline to opt out for this coming Monday, but seniors who decided to stay on traditional Medicare would have had to waive their city benefits and pay for their health coverage themselves. A group of retired city workers filed a lawsuit in late May arguing that the Adams administration would be diminishing care for retirees and violating city law by making them pivot onto the new Aetna-run plan. On Friday, Judge Lyle Frank granted retirees’ petition to temporarily block the transition while the case is pending in court. “As this matter deals with health decisions of an aging and a potentially vulnerable population, mostly on fixed incomes, any lapse in care for these people could lead to deleterious impacts,” Frank stated in his order. “This is now the third time in the last two years that courts have had to step in and stop the city from violating retirees’ health care rights,” Marianne Pizzitola, president of the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, one of the lead plaintiffs, said in a statement. “We call on the city and the Municipal Labor Committee to end their ruthless and unlawful campaign to deprive retired municipal workers of the health care benefits they earned.” Adams administration officials have argued that the new plan will not be inferior to retirees’ existing coverage, but retirees have expressed concerns that some doctors will not accept the new plan — and that patients will need prior approval from Aetna for more types of medical services. “We are extremely disappointed by this misguided ruling,” said Mayor Eric Adams' Deputy Press Secretary Jonah Allon via email. “The city’s Medicare Advantage plan, which was negotiated in close partnership with the Municipal Labor Committee, improves upon retirees’ current plans, including offering a lower deductible, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, and new benefits, like transportation, fitness programs and wellness incentive.” https://gothamist.com/news/judge-blocks-medicare-advantage-switch-for-250k-nyc-retirees-days-before-crucial-deadline

Gothamist: Judge blocks Medicare Advantage switch for 250K NYC retirees

A Manhattan judge is pressing pause on a controversial plan to push New York City government retirees onto a new privatized version of Medicare this fall – a major victory for critics of the switch.

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Mayor Eric Adams and his administration are moving ahead with a plan to change health care insurance for many retired city employees. This means the city would eliminate traditional Medicare completely, making the privatized Medicare Advantage plan the only option available. The change is set to move ahead with a deadline of June 30 for those who want to opt out. But the city is now facing a lawsuit from retirees who say the Medicare Advantage plan won’t allow them to see doctors not included in its narrower scope. Marianne Pizzitola, a retired FDNY worker who is also the president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, and Jake Gardener, a lawyer leading the class-action lawsuit, joined Errol Louis on "Inside City Hall" Wednesday night to discuss all this and more. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2023/06/28/nyc-organization-of-public-service-retirees-president-and-lawyer-discuss-insurance-change

NY1 News: NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees president and lawyer discuss insurance change

Mayor Eric Adams and his administration are moving ahead with a plan to change health care insurance for many retired city employees.

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Some help is now on its way for Nassau County seniors, officials announced. County Executive Bruce Blakeman was joined by AARP members in Glen Cove to announce an expansion of senior services. The services include a new service bus and a new liaison office that will help seniors get to useful resources -- such as health care and social service. It is paid for with state and local grant money. "This will create a more seamless way for people to get a good response to some of their issues," Blakeman says. The announcement comes after a recent report that found the senior population on Long Island has grown by over 100,000 in the past decade. Retiree Edda Podleska, of Glen Cove, moved from the Bronx to Glen Cova and says she has had to apply for a lot of senior services and the new services will help. She says even though she is older, she still wants to remain independent and young at heart Both Nassau and Suffolk counties have special government departments designed to help elderly residents. https://longisland.news12.com/nassau-county-adding-new-liaison-office-service-bus-for-seniors

Long Island News 12: Nassau County adding new liaison office, service bus for seniors

Some help is now on its way for Nassau County seniors, officials announced.

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New York, NY — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement in response to the New York Supreme Court ruling on shifting retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan: “Today’s ruling is a win for the many retirees who fought for the health care that they worked so hard for and were promised. When the Medicare Advantage contract was submitted to us this spring, our office declined to register it because we were concerned that litigation raised doubts about the City’s authority to enter into the contract. Today’s decision shows we were right to do so. “As a matter of public policy, beyond the scope of our office’s specific Charter responsibility for contract registration, I was and remain seriously concerned about the privatization of Medicare plans, overbilling by insurance companies, and barriers to care under Medicare Advantage. It is vital that all seniors—and all New Yorkers—get quality health coverage as a basic human right. “At the same time, given the growing costs of health care for both retirees and active employees we cannot ignore that there are real cost questions facing the City when it comes to health care. It is time for all parties to come to the table to identify creative and effective solutions.” https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/statement-from-comptroller-brad-lander-on-new-york-supreme-court-ruling-on-medicare-advantage/#:~:text=When%20the%20Medicare%20Advantage%20contract,were%20right%20to%20do%20so.

Statement from Comptroller Brad Lander on New York Supreme Court Ruling on Medicare Advantage

New York, NY — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement in response to the New York Supreme Court ruling on shifting retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan:

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Throughout his career, Denny Salas has been a stockbroker, a legislative researcher on Capitol Hill, a political consultant to members of Congress, a government affairs and political action committee manager for small-business manufacturing, a grant writer and development officer at a charter school, and a political candidate for local office. He serves on the NYPD’s 7th Precinct Community Council, as policy director for lower Manhattan’s United Democratic Organization, and as a county committee member and judicial delegate for the Manhattan Democratic Party. Recent accomplishments: Since Salas joined Gotham, he has helped deliver substantive victories. In Long Island, with AARP New York, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone issued executive orders installing age-friendly liaisons across relevant agencies to serve the 50-plus population. With the New York City municipal retirees, he helped lead the effort of having City Comptroller Brad Lander reject the mayor’s contract forcing municipal retirees into a Medicare Advantage plan, in addition to having City Council Member Charles Barron and Assembly Member Ken Zebrowski introduce legislation to protect the earned Medicare benefits of retirees. https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/07/whos-who-government-relations/388641/

City & State: Denny Salas named to City & State's Inaugural "Who's Who" in Government List

Since Salas joined Gotham, he has helped deliver substantive victories for our clients.

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New York, NY – The Comptroller’s Office declined to register the City’s contract with Aetna to transfer City retirees to a Medicare Advantage program for their health care coverage. A pending lawsuit, brought on behalf of retirees, questions the City’s authority to enter into such an agreement. Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement: “The Comptroller’s Bureau of Contract Administration carefully reviewed the City’s contract with Aetna and returned the contract to the Office of Labor Relations without registering it. Pending litigation calls into question the legality of this procurement and constrains us from fulfilling our Charter mandated responsibility to confirm that procurement rules were followed, sufficient funds are available, and the City has the necessary authority to enter into the contract. “As a matter of public policy, beyond the scope of our office’s specific Charter responsibility for contract registration, I am seriously concerned about the privatization of Medicare plans, overbilling by insurance companies, and barriers to care under Medicare Advantage. “I appreciate the work of the Municipal Labor Council and the Office of Labor Relations to negotiate improvements to the Aetna contract to address some of the concerns raised by retirees. However, the broader Medicare Advantage trends are worrisome. Recent investigations identified extensive allegations of fraud, abuse, overbilling, and denials of medically necessary care at 9 of the top 10 Medicare Advantage plans, including CVS Health, which owns Aetna. “As health care activist Ady Barkan wrote last month, noting that half of Medicare enrollees nationwide have been transferred from traditional Medicare to private Medicare Advantage plans: ‘Once corporations privatize every inch of the public provision of health care, we may never get Medicare back.’”

Comptroller Lander Declines to Register Medicare Advantage Contract Pending Litigation

New York, NY – The Comptroller’s Office declined to register the City’s contract with Aetna to transfer City retirees to a Medicare Advantage program for their health care coverage. A pending lawsuit, brought on behalf of retirees, questions the City’s authority to enter into such an agreement.

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