Mark P. Scherzer Law Blog

Mark Scherzer testified on June 8, 2009, at a hearing held by the New York State Assembly Insurance Committee in Albany, in support of a bill that would reinstate the ability of the State Insurance Department to review and approve certain health insurance premium rate increases prior to their taking effect.  Representing New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, Mark pointed out that if insurers overcharge, individuals and small businesses might be... Read More

Twenty five thousand workers are losing their jobs every week in New York State.  With unemployment often comes the loss of health coverage and other employee benefits.  To help New Yorkers understand their rights to maintain health coverage after they have been laid off or fired, the United Hospital Fund has published a free guide, " Read More

This week, New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage ("NYFAHC") and the New York Immigration Coalition (the "NYIC") jointly published an issue brief co-authored by Mark Scherzer and Jenny Rejeske, examining health coverage for immigrants in New York.

The work was funded by a grant from the New York... Read More

The following letter was submitted to the New York Times on January 20, 2009, in response to an article that appeared on January 19, 2009, "Impact of Paterson's Health Care Plan May be Limited":

To the Editor:

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Presentation by Mark Scherzer

Mark Scherzer addressed a large crowd of state policy-makers, healthcare advocates and insurance industry representatives at the NYSHealth Foundation Conference, “Reforming New York’s Individual Health Insurance Market,” in midtown Manhattan on November 17, 2008.  Mark was a member of a panel of experts commenting on proposals to reduce premiums and restore a viable, affordable “direct pay” market in New York State. Read More

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v. Glenn, 128 S. Ct. 2343 (Jun. 19, 2008) is likely to have beneficial effects on judicial review of ERISA-governed disability and other welfare benefit claims, particularly in the Second Circuit, which includes New York.  The Court’s analysis allows district courts more freedom to consider the impact of an... Read More

Attorneys Mark Scherzer and A. Christopher Wieber are contributing co-authors to the "Private Insurance" Chapter of AIDS and the Law (4th Ed., Aspen Publishers), along with Editor David W. Webber, Esq.  http://www.aidsandthelaw.com/  The chapter addresses access to health, life and disability insurance coverage, HIV testing, making disability claims under private insurance policies and employer-sponsored group... Read More

JANUARY 29, 2008:  Testimony Delivered on January 29, 2008 at the New York State Insurance Department Hearing on Proposed For-Proft Conversion of HIP/GHI

 

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the application of HIP/GHI, merged entities under the umbrella name Emblem Health, to convert to for-profit status.  New Yorkers for Accessible... Read More

FEBRUARY 19, 2008:  On Friday, February 22, 2008, from noon to 2 p.m., Mark Scherzer will be one of two attorneys conducting a continuing legal education seminar for both lawyers and lay people at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York, entitled "Appealing Health Insurance and Social Security Claims Denials:  Know Your Rights."

Mark will outline the basic rules and recommended strategies for  appealing health insurance... Read More

FEBRUARY 13, 2008:  New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has launched an investigation of health insurance companies' use of "usual, customary, and reasonable" charge (commonly referred to as "UCR") provisions to improperly and fraudulently reduce the amount paid to policyholders for their medical claims.  We believe the Attorney General's investigation is timely and appropriate.  We urge policyholders with UCR disputes to contact the... Read More