An Evaluation of the Impact of the New York Health Care Reform Act of 1996 on Selected Clinical Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Status

What is impact of the New York Health Care Reform Act (NYHCRA) of 1996 (implemented in January 1997) on selected clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and health status? NYHCRA replaced the regulatory control of hospital rates with negotiated rates driven by market forces and established public goods pools to finance health care for uninsured and low income New Yorkers, support GME, and fund other specific health care initiatives. The researchers investigated whether there were: 1) significant changes in the quality of care following the implementation of NYHCRA and the extent to which those changes are attributed to NYHCRA; and 2) significant changes in patient satisfaction and health status during the first two years of NYHCRA. This study was conducted in close cooperation with the New York State Department of Health and the United Hospital Fund, organizations which with HANYS comprise the New York State NYHCRA Study Group. The objective of the study was to better inform policymakers and other stakeholders about the impact reduced regulation of hospital rates on quality of care.