'Manny's Law' Must Be Enforced Everywhere
Op- ed
BY CHRISTINE QUINN, ERIC GIOIA AND JOEL RIVERA

The New York City Council recently concluded an investigation into an important law that anyone without health insurance in New York State should know about. It's called Manny's Law, and it could save your life or the life of someone you love.

In 2005, Manny Lanza, a hardworking New Yorker from Long Island, was diagnosed with a serious but treatable brain condition. Because he did not have health insurance, however, his hospital reportedly refused to provide the necessary care, and as Manny's family scrambled to enroll him in Medicaid, he died from his illness.

No one should ever be refused life-saving treatment simply because they do not have the means to pay for it. In 2006 we introduced the Patient Information Act, also known as Manny's Law, to help make sure all New Yorkers are given the care they need, when they need it. This law requires hospitals receiving funding from New York state to offer payment plans to uninsured New Yorkers to help them cover the cost of expensive treatment.

But just because a law is in the books doesn't mean it's being followed. To make sure that the hospitals subject to Manny's Law are making the necessary changes, the Council conducted an investigation of 59 hospital billing offices throughout New York City, including 13 in Queens. Council investigators called hospitals' billing offices and visited them in person. What we found was encouraging, but far from satisfactory.

Of the hospitals we visited in Queens, 62 percent provided information about financial assistance programs without prompting. An additional 15 percent provided this information when prompted and, disturbingly, 23 percent failed to provide information about financial assistance programs even when prompted. The figures when we telephoned were 85 percent, 8 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

We're thrilled that so many hospitals are playing by the rules, but we're deeply concerned about those that are not. A single act of negligence lays the groundwork for another needless tragedy, and we won't be satisfied until every single hospital required to follow Manny's Law does so. On October 30, the council released a set of recommendations to the New York state Department of Health to help ensure hospitals are complying with Manny's Law, and over the next few months we will be working closely with department officials to bring noncompliant hospitals into line.

Our health system failed Manny Lanza. To honor his memory, it is up to us to do everything we can to ensure that the mistakes that led to his death are never made again. Manny's Law is a crucial part of this effort. If you are uninsured and find yourself in a position where you or a loved one needs care you can't afford, make sure to tell your doctor about Manny's Law, and ask him or her about what payment options are available.

Christine Quinn is the Speaker of the New York City Council and represents the 3rd Council District in Manhattan.

Councilmember Eric Gioia represents the 26th Council District, Sunnyside, and is the chair of the council Oversight and Investigations Committee.

Joel Rivera represents the 15th Council Dsitrict, The Bronx, and is the chair of the council Health Committee.