Bronx Chamber official urges support for permanently 'unmerging' markets, backs 'age 35' provision

Megan Sullivan, vice president of government affairs for the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, told the committee Wednesday that the Chamber supports permanently unmerging the markets and is "very supportive of age 35," praising the committee for moving the measure quickly.

Sullivan said her predecessor in healthcare policy, Betsy Bishop, "worked on this issue extensively in this committee and in the legislature, and with partners for years," and that Sullivan — who will be handling health care issues for the Chamber going forward — wants to continue that engagement. "We support the work that this, this bill does, for, small businesses," she said, and offered the Chamber's assistance to committee members and its members as the measure advances.

The testimony concentrated on how the change would affect small employers. Sullivan said small businesses are "really struggling with the cost of healthcare right now" and that restoring separate markets would help those employers provide benefits that attract employees. She added that she does not yet have the full experience of her predecessor but will "do my best" in the role.

The committee's chair (name not specified in the transcript) told members the panel plans to resume committee markup and possibly vote on the measure on Friday, and noted the legislature will be "on the floor at 3 o'clock." No formal vote or amendment was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

The record shows the Chamber's testimony focused on small-business impacts and offered staff help to the committee as the bill moves toward markup.