2006 New York Code - Statement Of Policy And Purposes.

 
    § 4400. Statement of policy and purposes. Encouraging the expansion of
  health care services options available to the citizens of the state is a
  matter  of  vital  state  concern.  Without such an expansion, increased
  health insurance and other benefits will continue to escalate the  costs
  of medical care and overload the health care delivery system. The health
  maintenance  organization  concept, through which members of an enrolled
  population are each entitled to receive  comprehensive  health  services
  for   an   advance  or  periodic  charge,  represents  a  promising  new
  alternative for the delivery of a full range of health care services  at
  a reasonable cost.
    Accordingly, it shall be the policy of this state to expand the health
  care  services  options  available,  and to assure greater choice in the
  selection of  a  health  care  plan,  by  removal  of  legal  and  other
  impediments   to  the  development  of  competitive  health  maintenance
  organizations acceptable to the public.
    It is the intent of the legislature that  the  commissioner  therefore
  establish  a  comprehensive  system  of  authorization and regulation of
  health maintenance organizations in  the  state,  as  provided  in  this
  article,  in  order  to  assure  that health services of good quality be
  provided  to  all  citizens  who  choose  to  take  advantage  of   that
  alternative  to  meet  their health care needs.   The commissioner shall
  cooperate with the superintendent of  insurance  and  with  other  state
  officials  and  agencies  which  establish  standards  and  requirements
  pertaining to the provision and financing of  health  care  services  in
  order to assure necessary, equitable and consistent state supervision of
  all health care systems without duplication of inspection or services.