? New York City Council?s new speaker and other officials have introduced legislation aimed at improving the city?s public health care system.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn?s bill would require hospitals to tell patients they cannot be turned away for lack of insurance. Other key points include hospitals having financial assistance information readily available to patients who cannot pay their bills and for hospitals to report how many uninsured people they treat.
The proposal comes after a local hospital refused to treat a man because he did not have insurance. State and federal law require medical facilities to still provide service in such cases.